November 21, 2025
JOHOR BARU – Tighter security at the Malaysia-Singapore land checkpoints has caused massive traffic congestion, particularly for thousands of motorcyclists commuting daily.
It is learnt that the congestion, which peaks around 6am and 7pm, began recently after border officials intensified checks following more than two dozen cases of Malaysians entering or leaving without passport checking.
This has not gone down well with motorcyclists, who want the government to expand automated lanes at both checkpoints.
A motorcyclist who wants to be identified only as Tan said the additional security checks at manual counters were a nightmare and the cause of massive jams in the mornings.
“Yes, we should not compromise on our safety and security but we need more lanes with QR codes associated with the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe), which operates through the MyNIISe mobile app or the MyBorderPass app.”
He added that he would never exit the country without stamping his passport as his friend lost his job after being detained and fined by the Immigration Department.
Another motorcyclist, 44-year-old Razak Ahmad, said the long queues made travel tiring, especially returning to Malaysia.
“To avoid the jams, I now leave as early as 4am. The congestion isn’t just at Johor Baru but also at the Second Link in the evenings,” he said, calling for more automated lanes at both checkpoints.
A Home Ministry official said currently there were seven motorcycle lanes equipped with the new NIISe system at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI) in Johor Baru.
Additionally, there are 16 lanes accessible via the MyBorderPass app and 77 manual counters. The NIISe and MyBorderPass QR codes are not interchangeable.
BSI has a total of 100 counters for motorcycles, with 50 for entry and exit, while Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ Complex at the Second Link has 50 counters, comprising 25 for entry and exit.
Meanwhile, Johor works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh acknowledged that heavier congestion is inevitable as authorities strengthen checks after several motorcyclists bypassed passport controls.
He said stricter standard operating procedures (SOPs) were implemented at the motorcycle lanes of BSI and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) over the past few days.
“The congestion mainly involves manual counter users, where officers must physically inspect and scan each passport.
“Manual checks take more than 30 seconds per person, especially when multiple passports are handled at a time,” he said at the state assembly here yesterday.
Mohamad Fazli added that the enhanced SOP follows enforcement action reported by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS).
He also urged motorists to utilise the MyBorderPass and NIISe, which allow immigration clearance in under five seconds.
He added that usage among Malaysian motorcyclists remains low.
“For Malaysians, only about 40,000 to 50,000 have registered for the MyNIISe app. But Singaporeans have almost 100,000 registrations,” he said, adding that the apps support both inbound and outbound clearance, and the system for motorcycles is targeted for full readiness by December.
On Nov 14, AKPS reportedly said it detained 26 Malaysians who exited the country through the BSI motorcycle lane on Oct 16 without presenting their passports, which is an offence under Section 2(2) of the Passport Act 1960.
Thirteen of them were charged at the Pekan Nenas Immigration Court and fined RM1,500 each, while three pillion riders were released with written warnings.
Another 10 offenders were convicted on Nov 6 and fined RM1,000 each.
AKPS has since reminded all motorcyclists to comply with instructions at both manual and automated lanes and to ensure they report to an Immigration officer without fail when entering or leaving Malaysia.