JOHOR BARU, 19 Jan 2009: The Sultan Iskandar Building, which houses the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) centre, should be integrated with the Johor Baru city centre for the benefit of the complex users and traders in the city centre.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said six proposals had been drawn up to be submitted to the cabinet for consideration, to improve the CIQ complex to make it more user-friendly.
Shahrir had visited the CIQ complex with the Works Ministry’s deputy secretary-general Nasir Md Dam and Public Works Department director-general Datuk Seri Prof Dr Judin Abdul Karim this morning.
He was later met by reporters after launching the donation drive for the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund here organised by the Larkin Terminal Traders and Tenants Association.
Shahrir said among the proposals was having Customs and Immigration inspection counters at the old CIQ site in Jalan Tun Razak and at JB Sentral.
The Customs/Immigration counters at the old CIQ complex will be able to serve pedestrians moving between JB and Singapore, while the counters at JB Sentral should be for those using private or public transport and not entering Singapore, so that they will not have to walk far to the counters at the new CIQ complex.
Shahrir, who is also Johor Baru MP, said it was also proposed that the development of JB Sentral, which had not been completed, should complement the City Square shopping centre and Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak.
He said this was to make JB Sentral, which would be an integrated public transport hub, incorporating rail, taxi and bus services, a part of the city folk’s daily life.
Another proposal is that stage buses, taxis and other public transport vehicles be allowed to enter the parking area in front of the Sultan Iskandar Building.
Shahrir said an alternative road should also be built for vehicles coming from Singapore and wanting to enter the city centre so that the city centre would not be deserted and affect the business of traders there.
“The new CIQ complex is aimed at preventing traffic congestion outside the city but at the same time, we must also facilitate travel into the city centre,” he said.
On another matter, Shahrir said the task of managing JB Sentrals’ business area would be tendered out to those interested. — Bernama
Before says
Six proposals to improve CIQ complex – this kind of an headline should come before the CIQ started operations.
KW Loo says
The points raised in the six proposals should have been covered during the PLANNING PHASE of the CIQ building. Don’t they realize business in the city centre was entirely dependent on the SG-JB commuters? The eateries, money changers, small grocery shops, barbers, all of them were dependent on the commuting crowd during weekdays, and Singaporean visitors heading to City Square during weekends. Now that the CIQ has moved to Bukit Chagar, they have no reason at all to go to the city centre. There’s no way to bring the crowds back to the city centre, unless they reopen the old CIQ for pedestrians.
Shashi says
I am disgusted with the lack of planning or foresight shown by the authorities. The CIQ’s effectiveness was entirely dependent on the building of a new bridge to replace the causeway. Without the new bridge, the present site of the CIQ is not conducive to easing travel to and from Singapore, whether it is for private cars, public transport or pedestrians. What I cannot understand is the authorities’ bull-headedness in going ahead with the original CIQ plans even after the “crooked” bridge was scrapped. They had ample time to make some amendments to the plans, to take this into consideration. I am just wondering why they did not do so.
Travelling to and from Singapore is a nightmare now. It’s almost tempting to use the Second Link, even with its exorbitantly high toll rates, just to avoid the mess that is the CIQ.