Johor’s checkpoint autogate glitch resolved, normal operations resume: Malaysian official
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The issue only affected those with foreign passports.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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JOHOR BAHRU - The technical glitch involving all the autogates
Johor works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said that the autogates were operational on Jan 11, close to midnight.
However, at press time, it was still not clear as to what caused the glitch that knocked out most of the autogates at both checkpoints for about 48 hours from Jan 10.
The Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI) in Johor Baru has 39 autogates for entry and 29 for exit, while the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) at the Second Link has a total of 12 autogates.
The issue affected only those with foreign passports, and neither Malaysian passport holders nor those travelling using cars or motorcycles were affected, since they do not pass through the autogates.
The system crash mainly impacted those going through the bus halls where autogates are utilised.
The Star had earlier reported on delays of more than 90 minutes for foreigners to clear immigration during peak hours on Jan 10.
The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency, in its effort to manage the influx of visitors, especially at BSI, had employed different methods including a contra flow in the bus hall, having special lanes for Malaysians and foreigners, and also deploying additional people’s volunteer corps personnel to the bus halls.
It was learnt that during weekends, BSI clears more than 180,000 foreigners both ways, while over at KSAB, around 50,000 foreigners can be cleared.
Since June 1, 2024, visitors from 63 countries, as well as diplomats serving in Malaysia and their family members, have been eligible to use the autogates for faster clearance. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
