ILLEGAL PARKING BY MALAYSIAN-REGISTERED BUSES

Mr Hawazi Daipi asked the Minister for Home Affairs how the Traffic Police will overcome the problem of illegal parking by Malaysian-registered buses along Woodlands Centre Road and Admiralty Road which have been contributing to daily traffic jams in Marsiling.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: About 700 Malaysian-registered buses pass through the Woodlands Checkpoint each day, ferrying Malaysian workers to factories in Singapore. While the workers alight at the arrival hall to have their travel documents endorsed by Singapore Immigration and Registration (SIR) officers, the buses would wait for them at the coach-parking bay located just after the arrival hall. Due to space constraints, a maximum of nine buses can park at the bay at any one time. The other buses proceed to Admiralty Road to wait for the workers. It takes about 10 -15 minutes for a busload of workers to clear immigration.

The peak hours for the entry of these Malaysian-registered buses are from 5 am to 8 am, 1 pm to 2.30 pm, and 7.30 pm to 11.00 pm, reflecting changes in shifts at our factories. The congestion is aggravated by other peak hour traffic. However, there is no serious congestion to traffic flow along Admiralty Road because it is a three-lane road. Frequent police patrols have helped to regulate traffic. The Police also take enforcement action against buses and other traffic offenders that obstruct traffic.

The congestion at the Woodlands Checkpoint will be resolved when the new Checkpoint is completed by the middle of next year. It will have adequate parking facilities for buses.