SINGAPORE – Large multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) like the Toyota Alphard have been directed to use the bus lanes at Tuas Checkpoint instead of the lanes for cars.

The passengers have to alight to clear immigration before they can get into their MPVs to continue their journeys. This is a process similar to the one for buses and passenger vans crossing the checkpoint.

News first surfaced on various Facebook groups for travellers between Singapore and Malaysia on Jan 2.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) confirmed on its Facebook page late on Jan 3 that the diversion of MPVs to the bus lane for immigration clearance is limited to the Tuas Checkpoint.

Passengers in such vehicles have to alight with their luggage and go to the bus hall for immigration clearance, while the driver clears immigration through the bus lane.

The authority also listed examples of vehicles considered “large MPVs”: Hyundai Starex, Hyundai Staria, Toyota Vellfire, Toyota Alphard and Maxus.

While the Toyota-branded MPV models are common in Singapore and Malaysia, the other brands and models listed tend to be Malaysian-registered vehicles.

As they do for bus passengers, ICA officers will help those with mobility issues, seniors, pregnant women or young children with immigration clearance from inside the vehicles, rather than have them step out of the MPVs.

The authority said the move was part of its ongoing efforts to enhance clearance efficiency at the car lanes and the overall immigration clearance experience for car travellers. MPVs tend to carry more passengers than other cars, hence needing more time for clearance.

Smaller MPVs, according to ICA’s post, can continue to clear immigration through the car lanes. It did not cite examples of smaller MPVs.

“There has been numerous feedback from car travellers about the delays caused by large MPVs with more passengers and that ICA should consider segregating them into different lanes,” the ICA’s post continued.

The ICA said that given the different operating environment, it was not possible to implement such an initiative at the Woodlands Checkpoint to ease traffic volumes at the car zone.

“Nonetheless, ICA will continue to study our current processes and explore ways to improve travellers’ experience. We seek travellers’ understanding, patience and cooperation with ICA officers at the checkpoints.”

Mr Lester Yeong, 47, hired an MPV with a driver in July 2023 to take him and some friends for a nature hike in Kuantan, Pahang, which is about five hours’ drive from Singapore. The manager of a company that deals in lorries said he heard about the new clearing process for MPVs on Jan 2.

He welcomed the arrangement as it means that MPVs do not have to be caught in the long queue for cars to clear immigration.

Limousine driver Andy Ang, 54, expects that diverting some traffic to the bus lanes at Tuas Checkpoint should help to ease the traffic congestion for cars to clear immigration, although he wondered if that would cause congestion in the bus lanes.

Mr Glenn Wee, 45, an IT consultant, drove to Legoland Malaysia in Johor using his Toyota Vellfire in December 2023. The father of three boys, aged between three and 13, said that if he were to do the drive again, he would avoid Tuas Checkpoint so as not to have the hassle of getting his children out of the vehicle to clear immigration.

“I would also wait until the rules are clear for everyone instead of joining in the confusion,” he added.

The land borders between Singapore and Malaysia are among the busiest in the world. The ICA said that from Dec 15 to Dec 17, 2023, there were close to 435,000 crossings daily, exceeding the number in the same period in 2019 by nearly 30,000.

In its statement issued on Dec 19, ahead of the Christmas and New Year’s Day long weekends, ICA said it was expecting “very heavy traffic” at the land checkpoints until the end of 2023 and that those clearing immigration by car might have to wait for up to three hours.

ICA advised motorists to check the traffic situation at the crossings through platforms such as the Land Transport Authority’s OneMotoring website or through ICA’s Facebook and local radio broadcasts before starting their journeys.