TRAFFIC JAM AT SINGAPORE END OF CAUSEWAY (Reasons)

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan asked the Minister for Home Affairs what are the reasons for the traffic jam during peak periods at the Singapore immigration end of the Singapore Johor Causeway and what will be done to have a smoother flow of traffic, especially during peak periods.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Mr Speaker, Sir, one main reason for the congestion is a significant increase in the number of travellers passing through the Woodlands Checkpoint.

In 1990, the daily average was about 176,000 travellers. This increased to 195,000 in 1994 and 203,000 in 1995. This is an increase of more than 15% over the last five years. There are also now more travellers who are not Malaysians and not Singaporeans using the Causeway. Compared to the previous year, the number of this group of travellers increased by 19%. Given the large number of travellers and those who drive through the Causeway every day, some traffic congestion is inevitable, especially during the peak hours.

Singapore Immigration has taken measures to ease the congestion problem as much as possible and as far as it is feasible. For example, a new checking area with 12 lanes for clearance of motorcycles was introduced in May 1994. Since its implementation, the traffic situation at the Woodlands Checkpoint in the morning has improved significantly. The traffic flow is now smoother.

To meet the ever increasing number of travellers using the Woodlands Checkpoint, the Immigration Department would also be embarking on a new pilot project called auto clearance by giving frequent travellers a smart card and let them travel through the Causeway almost hassle-free. But this is a pilot project which we will only launch next month to try out the system. And if this system works, then of course those who travel frequently to Malaysia will find it very convenient to travel through the Causeway.

The congestion at the Checkpoint is essentially due to the Checkpoint's current inadequate capacity to deal with the crowd and the heavy flow during the peak periods from 5.00 to 8.00 in the evening when many vehicles want to depart for Malaysia at the same time. Whatever measures we take can only bring about minimal improvement to the present situation. But the situation will improve substantially when a new Checkpoint is built in Woodlands and that will be in a couple of years' time and also when the second link at Tuas is completed. So with two places to cross between Singapore and Malaysia, I think the traffic flow will improve substantially in 1997 or 1998.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Department, together with the Police, will continue to monitor the situation and take all the necessary measures to improve clearance speed. When there is a substantial jam or congestion during the peak periods, the Police will increase its manpower to try to clear the traffic. While the Immigration Department will do its best, we have to expect that congestion will continue to occur. The only way of not having congestion is not to check people at the Causeway. From the security point of view, this is totally unacceptable.