By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 3: The immigration checkpoint congestion in Lawas requires long-term solutions, particularly at the Merapok Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) Complex, which has the second highest traffic volume after the Sungai Tujuh ICQS.
According to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Transport Sarawak (MOTS) Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the Sarawak government is currently planning short-term measures to reduce traffic congestion at the ICQS border in Lawas.
“For the long term, we will study how we can improve the traffic flow here to avoid serious congestion issues, especially during peak hours,” he was quoted as saying in the news report.
Lee made the remarks when speaking to reporters during a press conference held yesterday (May 2) at the Mengkalap Trusan ICQS in Lawas.
Ukas reported that a total of 195,687 vehicles entered and exited through the Mengkalab border in 2023, and from January to April this year, 73,221 vehicles were recorded by the Lawas Customs Department to have entered and exited the border.
Also, 466,446 visitors have crossed the Mengkalab and Merapok borders in Lawas for the period from January to April 2024.
Lee further stated that the Sarawak Immigration Department will develop long-term plans for Sungai Tujuh, Pandaruan, Mengkalap, and Merapok, and that the information will be discussed with the Brunei government.
However, he noted that the Sarawak government is only assisting in finding solutions to the problem because the aforementioned ICQS fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal government.
Commenting on the Sungai Tujuh ICQS, the minister informed that the Sarawak government has allocated RM4 million to overcome congestion issues there.
“We have studied the congestion issue at Sungai Tujuh to reduce border congestion.
“For the short term, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has assisted with an allocation of RM4 million, such as adding more counters to overcome this issue,” Lee added. — DayakDaily
