KUALA LUMPUR – Several opposition leaders are up in arms over a decision to suspend the operations of parts of the automated clearance system at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Johor Baru for upgrading works lasting almost a month, coinciding with the election period.
They are demanding to know why this has to be done when possibly hundreds of thousands of Malaysians currently residing in Singapore are expected to travel back home to vote and whether this is a blatant attempt by the government to discourage their return.
There are an estimated 100,000 Johor voters currently working in Singapore, with over 7,000 of them eligible to vote by post.
According to the complex’s corporate communications unit, the temporary suspension of several of its auto-gates from October 16 to November 10 is to make way for replacement and installation works.
In a Facebook post, it said travellers can still utilise the other operating auto-gates or, alternatively, the existing manual counters.
When contacted, a CIQ officer said half of the 28 entry and exit auto-gate counters will be inoperative during the period.
The move is set to cause even longer queues at the already congested border checkpoint, which sees a daily average of over 130,000 people passing through.
The suspension of the auto-gates was only announced on October 14, just days after caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the general election, which is rumoured to take place in early November.
Speaking to The Vibes, Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong said the government must come clean and provide clarity on the issue, since scores of Malaysians may be affected if polling day does indeed fall on or before November 10, when the works at the CIQ are expected to be completed.
The government must explain to the public whether it has an ulterior motive to cause suffering to so many people,” he said today.
Muda president and incumbent Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman similarly demanded an answer from the government, questioning why the upgrade was not done earlier when the country’s international borders were closed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Why only upgrade and replace (the auto-gates) now and not during the two years of lockdown?” he asked.
“They had ample time to do it, yet they picked the worst time, where hundreds of thousands of Malaysians are commuting daily and will be badly affected.”
Former Johor PKR chief and incumbent Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said any move to suppress the people from voting cannot be tolerated, stressing that it was the responsibility of the government and all political parties to preserve the right of every Malaysian to vote.
He did not discount the possibility of manipulation and political manoeuvring on the part of the ruling party to ensure a low voter turnout, saying this was against the very spirit of democracy.
“I don’t think the government or prime minister should succumb to such tactics. Granted, the election could be held on the 12th, and so they may be trying to upgrade the system before then.
“But if this is not the case, we need to raise this (with) the authorities to enquire and demand for an explanation,” he said.
On Facebook, several users had also commented on the Sultan Iskandar Complex corporate communications unit’s post, lambasting the decision to conduct the works during the election period, and not when the country was under lockdown.
Attempts to get the Immigration Department for comment on the matter have been futile as of the time of publication. – The Vibes, October 19, 2022
