KUALA LUMPUR: The increase in the exchange rate between the ringgit and the Singapore dollar have contributed to the congestion at the Causeway as more people are travelling between Johor Baru and Singapore.
Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) Immigration head Adam Abu Hanipah said the number of people crossing the Causeway had increased drastically due to the exchange rate.
"For January and February, an average of 237,000 people cross the Causeway each day. A lot of Singaporeans are coming to Johor Baru for shopping and leisure. It is good for the economy but it is a challenge for us to handle the congestion," said Adam.
He said this in the Santai KDN podcast on the Home Ministry YouTube channel.
He also said that it was now difficult for the department to predict when the congestion would happen.
"Previously, we could predict when the congestion would occur, which was usually when people were travelling to and from work. Now the situation is uncertain. People would cross the Causeway after seeing on their traffic applications that it was clear.
"The problem is other people would do the same, which leads to congestion. That is why we have to be on standby around the clock," said Adam.
The gridlock at the Causeway and the Second Link made headlines recently when a glitch in the automated MBike immigration clearance system for motorcyclists caused massive congestion for motorcyclists commuting between Johor and Singapore.
Motorcyclists had to wait for hours to clear Immigration and there were extensive queues at both BSI and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB).
The congestion is due to a disruption of the MBike system at motorcycle inspection zone entry and exit routes.
