JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA - INCREASED security at the Singapore checkpoint due to the escape of terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari has caused massive traffic jams, distressing Causeway commuters and turning away visitors.
Local taxi driver V. Vijayan, 47, said many of his passengers had complained of being stuck for hours in the traffic jams at the Singapore checkpoint.
'My passengers, who usually reach Johor Baru at 6pm after work, end up reaching the city at only 9pm,' said Mr Vijayan, adding that he felt sorry for Malaysians working in Singapore because they had to go through the ordeal every day.
Meanwhile, many Singaporeans he picked up complained that they had missed their flights and buses heading into other states in the country due to the jams, he said.
Singaporean Lim Ong Long wanted to know why the officers could not do the security checks faster. 'I saw how they did the check and was disappointed they did not put in any effort to quicken the process,' he said.
A 72-year-old doctor who lives in Woodlands said that immigration officers must understand that people had urgent matters to attend to.
'What if someone has to attend a surgery or an operation? They would never make it in time due to this absurd situation,' said the doctor who declined to be named.
A Singaporean taxi driver, who preferred to remain anonymous, hoped that the security checks would be lifted soon as he was getting fewer passengers.
'Many of them cancelled plans to go to Johor as it takes them so many hours to enter the state,' he said.
C. Jaya, 40, who works in Singapore, said that she saw many Singaporean holidaymakers, stuck in long queues, aborting their plans and turning back.
And, nearby resorts are feeling the impact.
Pulai Springs's general manager, Mr C. Jerome F. de la Fuente, said that many of the resort's clients and members had failed to turn up.
'Ever since they tightened the security checks, we have been receiving fewer reservations,' he said, adding that some events at the resort had to be postponed. -- The Star/ANN.
