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Malaysian Reserve
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Johor MB urges swift action on system disruption at CIQ BSI
JOHOR BAHRU — The Johor government has urged the relevant federal authorities to take immediate action to prevent a recurrence of the system disruption at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) here. Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the incident highlights the need for an efficient, reliable and consistently operational system, given that the CIQ BSI is one of the country's main international gateways. Expressing disappointment over the disruption, which lasted more than 24 hours, he said that although there have been slight improvements in managing congestion, they remain insufficient. 'Such weaknesses not only inconvenience the public but may also tarnish the image of the state and nation, especially as this is one of the busiest entry points in the region,' he said in a Facebook post following an unannounced visit to the CIQ BSI. Located in the heart of Johor Bahru, the CIQ BSI handles hundreds of thousands of daily cross-border movements, particularly between Malaysia and Singapore. The Malaysian Border Control Agency earlier said the disruption to the autogate system for foreign visitors at the country's main entry points since yesterday is due to data integration issues, which have slowed the cross-checking process in the MyIMMS system. The glitch had led to long queues and congestion at several locations, including Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2, as well as the CIQ complexes at BSI and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar in Johor. — BERNAMA
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Johor MB calls for urgent fix to CIQ BSI system disruption
JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor government has urged the relevant federal authorities to take immediate action to prevent a recurrence of the system disruption at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) here. Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the incident highlights the need for an efficient, reliable and consistently operational system, given that the CIQ BSI is one of the country's main international gateways. Expressing disappointment over the disruption, which lasted more than 24 hours, he said that although there have been slight improvements in managing congestion, they remain insufficient. 'Such weaknesses not only inconvenience the public but may also tarnish the image of the state and nation, especially as this is one of the busiest entry points in the region,' he said in a Facebook post following an unannounced visit to the CIQ BSI. Located in the heart of Johor Bahru, the CIQ BSI handles hundreds of thousands of daily cross-border movements, particularly between Malaysia and Singapore. The Malaysian Border Control Agency earlier said the disruption to the autogate system for foreign visitors at the country's main entry points since yesterday is due to data integration issues, which have slowed the cross-checking process in the MyIMMS system. The glitch had led to long queues and congestion at several locations, including Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2, as well as the CIQ complexes at BSI and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar in Johor. - Bernama
The Star
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Johor MB calls for urgent action over prolonged autogate disruption
JOHOR BARU: Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has voiced his disappointment regarding a system disruption involving the autogates that lasted over 24 hours, causing congestion at checkpoints. He noted that the disruption affected the smooth flow of in and out transactions. "I have extended this matter directly to relevant parties at the Federal level. I urge immediate steps to be taken to ensure that this issue does not repeat," he said after making a surprise visit to the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (BSI) here. Onn emphasized the need for an efficient, consistent operating system capable of functioning optimally at all times. "As I have stated before, despite some improvements in crowd management, it is not adequate. Operations at the country's border gates have not yet reached the level of efficiency we expected," he remarked, adding that such incidents not only inconvenience the public but also affect the state and country's image. Since Friday noon, foreigners have been unable to use all autogates nationwide, though those with Malaysian passports remain unaffected. As of press time, some autogates have begun resuming services in stages nationwide since 4.30pm. More to come
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Johor MB: Autogate system failure an embarrassment to Malaysia
JOHOR BARU: Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi did not mince his words in voicing his frustration over the autogate system failure at Johor's border crossing with Singapore, describing it as "an embarrassment to the country." The Johor Menteri Besar said the system failure reflects badly on Malaysia and the government's ability to welcome visitors. Speaking to the New Straits Times during his visit to the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex today, he said the problem has yet to be resolved. He said the issue undermined Malaysia's efforts to welcome international visitors, particularly at a time when Johor is working closely with Singapore under the Special Economic Zone framework. "We have worked so hard to promote Johor and Malaysia as open and investment-friendly — what message are we sending to the world when this happens?" "This is not just an inconvenience — it reflects on the government's competence," he said. He said the system began having problems at 3pm on Friday. "At 4.30pm today, it's still not functioning yet. This is serious and it must be addressed at the federal level to ensure it doesn't happen again," he said. Asked on theories that sabotage or hacking was behind the problem, Onn Hafiz said he did not wish to speculate. "However, our neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Thailand had not experienced similar immigration system disruptions. "We should be asking why only our system is vulnerable," he said. The Johor-Singapore border is acknowledged as one of the world's busiest cross-border land crossings, catering for an average of 300,000 people daily. In a posting on Facebook later, Onn Hafiz said his visit to the BSI was done at the decree of Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. He said he has extended his concerns at the federal level. "we need an operations system that is efficient, consistent, and able to function at an optimum level at all times. "While there have been some improvements, it's not enough. It has yet to reach a level of efficiency we hope for. "Such weaknesses not only inconvenience the people, but also affects the country's image as it is among the busiest entry points in the region." he said. Meanwhile, Johor Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said the authorities have activated contra lanes at the state's border checkpoints to ease congestion. He said the state government was also awaiting updates from federal authorities regarding the cause of the technical disruption. "We don't know yet whether it was sabotage or otherwise. "What we do know is that the Interpol system is having issues, and we are doing what we can on the ground to manage the situation," he added.
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Congestion at Johor CIQ as autogate glitch slows entry for foreign travellers
KUALA LUMPUR: Heavy congestion was reported this morning at the bus passenger hall of the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex due to a technical fault in the autogate system. Light vehicles also experienced slower traffic approaching the entry checkpoint, although other immigration zones within the complex were not affected. The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency, in an update at 11.30am, said the congestion stemmed from a disruption in the automated immigration clearance system at the main entry point used by foreign visitors. Travellers were reminded to ensure their travel documents are valid and in order before approaching immigration counters. "They are also reminded to present a valid visa where required, top up their Touch 'n Go cards prior to arrival, and check their eligibility and submit travel details via the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) portal," the agency said in a Facebook post today. It also advised all visitors to adhere to displayed instructions and give way to those in greater need to ensure comfort and safety for all. Earlier, the agency confirmed that a technical disruption had affected the autogate system used by foreign visitors at the country's main entry points since yesterday. Preliminary investigations indicate that the issue stems from a data integration failure, which has slowed the cross-verification process in the Malaysian Immigration Integrated System (MyIMMS).
