Immigration vows problem‑free travel for Malaysians returning from Singapore to vote in Johor election

JOHOR BAHRU, July 6 — The Immigration Department (JIM) has intensified its preparedness to the highest level by conducting continuous monitoring of inspection systems at the country’s entry points to facilitate the return of voters ahead of the Johor state election.

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said that, so far, inspection systems at the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) and Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) are operating normally.

“Our system is currently operating smoothly, and we are still using the existing system, not a new one. Should there be any disruption, our technical team will immediately troubleshoot the system.

“If the system is down, manual procedures will be taken to ensure inspections at the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine (ICS) complexes continue without disruption,” he told Bernama here today.

Zakaria said the JIM technical team will continue to monitor the system’s performance around the clock so that any disruptions could be identified and addressed immediately.

“We must ensure a problem-free system on that day (polling day) so that voters who are in Singapore can return to fulfil their civic responsibility without any difficulty,” he said.

Previously, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail assured that his ministry would ensure the smooth travel for voters working in the republic, including activating a comprehensive mitigation plan should any system disruptions occur.

BSI, which connects JB Sentral and Woodlands, and KSAB, in Tanjung Kupang, via the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Linkedua), are among the world’s busiest gateways, handling up to 300,000 people daily.

The Johor state election will see 172 candidates contesting 56 seats. Polling will be held on Saturday (July 11), while early voting is scheduled for July 7.

For the latest updates on the 16th Johor State Election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor. — Bernama