The Star Online: Johor's new CIQ complex to replace current congested building

Friday April 14, 2006

Johor's new CIQ complex to replace current congested building

KUALA LUMPUR: The almost completed Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in Johor will not be a white elephant but will be put to good use, said the Prime Minister.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the present complex was already congested and the new CIQ complex in Bukit Chagar could help ease congestion as it would be bigger.

He said much of the congestion experienced on the Malaysian side of the Causeway was because the existing CIQ could not deal with the large number of travellers daily.

“When the road to the new CIQ is completed, we expect the congestion to ease,” he added. The new RM1.1bil CIQ complex is expected to be fully operational next January.

In a related development, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu proposed that a six-lane flyover be constructed to link the new complex.

Samy Vellu said he would propose that the flyover be built instead of a permanent ground-level road so as to minimise disruption in Johor Baru.

He said the proposed flyover would eventually replace the RM30mil ground-level temporary road being built to link the CIQ complex to the Causeway.

“We do not want to split Johor Baru city into two. A road will require many existing roads in the city centre to be sealed off,” he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

On Wednesday, the Cabinet announced that it was abandoning plans to build a “scenic bridge” to replace the Causeway.

On what legal implications prompted the Government to change its mind about building the bridge, Abdullah said the Government had to abide by all kinds of laws that were in place when it came to dealing with trains, pipes and even the Causeway.

“We have to follow the existing treaties. There might be problems if we do not,” he said.

Abdullah added that negotiations with Singapore on other matters would continue and that future negotiations did not hinge on the building of the bridge.

He refused to comment on whether there would be future plans to revive the bridge project.

Singapore had asked for rights to buy sand and to use Johor airspace in exchange for its agreement for a straight bridge, and said that it would oppose any unilateral decision by Malaysia on the bridge.

On compensation to Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd, the contractor of the bridge project, Samy Vellu said the Attorney-General had been asked to look into whether compensation was due to the firm and what amount should be paid.