Singapore Immigration

Question:

Shame on you, Singapore immigration and customs. You have tarnished our good image. We cannot claim that Singapore workers are the world best. Our fellow workers at the CIQ at the causeway let us down badly. Shame, Shame, Shame??

Answer:

Just two years ago, I could breeze through Singapore CIQ at the causeway and I had to queue for more than a hour to clear the Malaysian immigration and customs. Foreign friends who came along for the night outings in JB always praised the efficiency of Singapore government servants.

Now the reverse if true. My overseas friends now praise the Malaysian CIQ and ask me what happened to our world renowned efficiency.

In his interview with TV Singapore tonight, Mr. Lu gave the excuse that security is the foremost concern now. Nonsense ! Security was not important in the past ?

Real professional will be able to maintain efficiency and yet cover security well.

Does anybody know how those peoples pass the Malaysia immigration without passport?

the immigration officers of malaysia are too busy reading papers or eating nasilemak...

seriously... i've seen them do this too many times for this to be a one-off...

i wonder... look at the 35 illegals caught just before the old one closed...

you want security?

i don't go to JB that often, but i do walk around at night a lot...

oh ya... a bunch of indonesian burglars were arrested near my place.. they targetted the neighbourhood... i'd rather there be fewer of these people around...

The usual manner is to wave one's restricted passport at them as they know the Singapore side will do the necessary. I guess anything that resembles the document will pass muster.

We have already implemented the scheme for free travel in the Asean region; starting with our neighbour; only they don't know about it.

BTW, the Singapore guys do a very proficient job; although they usually tend not to react when you say "Thank you."

The illegal Indonesians would smuggled into Malaysia first, and then smuggled pass the causeway immigration again. How clever of them, to come to Singapore by the back door!

The Singapore immigration is no fool of course! They must have taken lesson from the British.(The Japanese army came through the back door- now the British always jaga their backs)

This is the logical reason for conducting thorough security checks on the 30,000 workers who cross the causeway daily on motorcycles to work in the factories in Jurong. There are hundred of thousands Singaporean waiting to take over these jobs. Employers in Jurong, should not have fear of not having workers to man their factories, provided they pay higher wages to the locals. If they cannot afford the higher cost of doing business, they can always relocate to JB. It was a mistake of EDB to waste so much effort to persuade them to set up factories in Jurong.

Singapore's image is of no concern of course. Our claim to be a nation of efficient workers is a false claim. The Malaysian immigration workers are more efficient than us.

Ken is right. No wonder, there is no more burglars near my place for the last few day. I thought I spied some Indonesian looking characters in my neighborhood in the past. (My stupid sister says that they were cleaners, but she is not always right.)

Think about Singapore Bintang Industrial Park first....an one stop industrial park run by Singaporean.

For your Info Singapore Industrial Park in Thailand will also be ready soon...there are many rooms for you to put up your factory.

I expect not only are the travellers affected by the new complex; soon the shop-owners of Woodlands Center will be crying for help.

With the bus lanes at least three times the distance away compared to the previous arrangement, pedestrians will not patronise the shops anymore. If you want to take the bus at the Woodlands terminal after you enter Singapore, it is now a pretty long walk.

I wonder if the planners took this important factor into account. Security of course is paramount but surely they were aware of the many people who actually walk to/from Singapore?

of course not. after all, SIR does not owe the shopkeepers their livelihood. they'll have to adjust, or re-invent themselves, which is usual and normal here.

The damage done by Singapore immigration and customs is getting more serious by the day. The have finally forced the truck drivers to boycott Singapore. The consequence of the trucks not coming to Singapore is far reaching.

There will be immediate shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables on our dinner table. Prices will be much higher.

Many local factories depend on raw materials supply from Malaysia. They will face closure if they cannot find alternative source of supply at competitive prices. Factory closures means higher unemployment for locals.

The efficiency of PSA is negated by the inefficient immigration and customs at the causeway. Malaysian exporters and importers will be forced to use Klang. Klang will be a serious competitor to PSA. Thanks to the help given by the Singapore customs and immigration at Woodland.

The goodwill of these truck drivers will be lost overnight. They perform an invaluable service to the economy of Singapore.

Is the issue of security real or imagined? Is it just an excuse for some planning blotch job?

Are you their official spokesman? I wonder what happened to the "helicopter vision" or maybe they were flying the Apaches only that day?

Maybe some business people in Woodlands would like to indicate how is business these days?