MIRI (Jan 15): The upgrading project at the Sungai Tujoh Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex is now 88 per cent complete and is expected to be fully operational one week before the Chinese New Year, said Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.
Lee said the project, which includes the construction of four additional traffic lanes, more immigration and customs counters, and public toilet facilities, aims to ease chronic congestion at the busy border crossing, particularly during weekends and festive periods. “Over the years, we have received many complaints from travellers passing through Sungai Tujoh, especially during festive seasons, where waiting times could stretch to three or even five hours,” he told reporters during a working visit to the site on Wednesday.
Lee said the Sarawak government, with the approval of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, had allocated RM4 million for the project to improve traffic flow at the border. He noted that the project was originally scheduled for completion in December last year but was delayed due to adverse weather conditions and minor design amendments, resulting in an extension of time.
“However, we have emphasised that this project must be completed before the Chinese New Year, as traffic congestion is expected to worsen with increased travel during the festive period,” he said, adding that the contractor had assured him the deadline would be met. Once completed, Lee said traffic flow would be reorganised with separate counters for Malaysian-registered vehicles and foreign vehicles, including those from Brunei. “The four new counters will be dedicated to Malaysian vehicles.
“Currently, Malaysian and Brunei vehicles are processed together, and since clearance for Malaysian vehicles is usually faster, they often get stuck behind slower queues,” he explained. Separating the traffic, he said, would significantly help to reduce congestion at the Sungai Tujoh ICQS. Lee stressed that while the current upgrading works would provide immediate relief, they are only a temporary measure, and a comprehensive revamp of the Sungai Tujoh ICQS is needed in the long term.
He said he would appeal to the federal government to prioritise a full redevelopment of the complex under the 13th Malaysia Plan, possibly including the construction of a new terminal at a nearby site to better accommodate increasing traffic volume. “Sungai Tujoh is a very important border crossing with Brunei. “In the long run, we also need to look into seamless travel solutions, such as electronic systems or facial recognition technology, similar to those used at the Johor-Singapore border,” he added. Meanwhile, Lee also called on Telekom Malaysia (TM) to improve internet coverage at the ICQS vicinity to ensure smoother operation. “The coverage here is very slow and often buffers, which slows down online processes,” he said, urging TM to take immediate action to improve connectivity and service in the area.
