Heavy human and traffic jams at Woodlands Checkpoint following Johor terror attack
Travellers entering Singapore on the evening of May 19 faced delays at Woodlands Checkpoint due to the ramping up of security measures.
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the increased patrols and enhanced checks came in view of a "heightened threat situation," in which a May 17 attack on a police station in Ulu Tiram, Johor, left two cops dead and one injured.
The perpetrator, a suspected member of the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), was shot dead at the scene.
In view of the heightened threat situation, ICA had earlier today stepped up security measures, including at our... Posted by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Saturday 18 May 2024
"Travellers should expect delays at the checkpoints due to enhanced checks, and factor in additional time needed for immigration clearance," said ICA in a Facebook post at 9.14pm.
A check of the Beat The Jam app at about 11pm showed that travellers crossing the Causeway could expect to take between three and four hours to enter Singapore, reported The Straits Times. Meanwhile, those using the Second Link in Tuas may take 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
Photo: The Straits Times
Transport operator SBS Transit also told commuters to expect delays for bus services 160, 170 and 170X in the direction of Singapore due to heavy traffic along the Causeway.
A member of the Stomp team observed long queues at both Singapore and Malaysia immigration counters.
It was an equally chaotic and crowded scene at bus bays on the Johor Bahru side, with large groups of commuters scrambling to hop onto any available bus.
At least one bus driver was charging S$2 for a ride instead of the usual RM3. Travellers were undeterred, however, with many seen flashing Singapore dollar notes in hopes of boarding the bus.
Numerous people, including this writer, opted to enter Singapore by foot after waiting in vain for a bus for more than 1.5 hours.
According to Stomper Lim, there was a traffic jam from 8am on May 19 to 2am on May 20.
ICA said in an update at 12.50pm that heavy arrival traffic at Woodlands Checkpoint had subsided.
It added: "Travellers are advised to check traffic conditions before embarking on their journey."
See something interesting? Contribute your story to us.
Explore more on these topics
