Vehicles were backed up several kilometres. Horns blared and tempers flared as motorists saw their chances of making it on time for their reunion dinner dim.

About 1.35 million travellers passed through the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints on five days of the festivities last year, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

But this year's number could well exceed that because, besides those marking the new year, other travellers have tagged the weekend to the public holidays today and tomorrow for a four-day break in Malaysia.

The ICA said it has arranged to handle the surge in travellers since Feb 1 by deploying more officers to man congested areas. It has also opened up more immigration counters.

ICA spokesman Kong Yong Sin urged travellers to do their bit by maintaining lane discipline.

The ICA has also deployed extra pairs of eyes to spot those who may try to sneak contraband in.

Travel coaches - most already full - are adding to the crush.

Transtar Travel, for example, has, since last Friday, doubled its number of buses headed for Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Ipoh. It is now running 24 coaches across the border daily, all fully booked.

Even those who thought they would have a headstart on the jams by leaving on Tuesday afternoon were not spared the snarls.

Malacca-bound marketer Marcus Seow, 30, was stuck in one for an hour.

He said: 'I didn't expect congestion so early on and it was quite tiring to be stuck on the road for so long.'

Among the motorists who could leave here only yesterday afternoon was accountant Michael Sim, 28, who took more than an hour to clear customs before driving to KL.

He said: 'I have no choice. But the long wait is worth the time I get to spend with friends and family.'

jermync@sph.com.sg