Causeway traders split over CIQ impact

JOHOR BARU: Business owners near the Causeway expressed mixed feelings about the opening of the new Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex.

Some were worried they might have to close down because fewer people were entering the city, while others were optimistic that more people would arrive as traffic congestion would ease.

Photo studio owner Chin Su Thu was worried business would be so bad that he might be forced to relocate.

The 71-year-old said his shop was conveniently located as customers could pick up their photographs on their way back from Singapore.

“Business has been quite bad for the past three to four years, and with the opening of the new CIQ, I’m afraid it will only get worse,” said Chin who has been operating in this location since 1934.

He hoped the Johor Baru City Council and state authorities would organise community activities to help draw people to the area.

Salesman Kalai Selvam, who works at a small 24-hour convenience store, said his employer was moving next month.

“Business has definitely slowed, but my boss has a lot at the new CIQ and we are moving there,” said the 38-year-old father of two from India.

Singaporean Rizal Bashir, 28, a computer programmer, comes to Johor Baru twice a week to refuel his motorcycle.

He believes businesses in the vicinity would suffer as a result of the former CIQ closing down.

“The new one is simply too far away from here, and it will be very difficult for petrol station owners especially. They will probably need to rely on their regular customers to stay in business,” he said.

When approached, petrol station owner Y.K. Chong, 51, said he was not optimistic about the changes.

“Profits have dropped by about 20% so far simply because it is no longer convenient for travellers to pass through this way,” he said.

For the past month, Chong has been giving out free boxes of tissue paper to motorists in an effort to get them to patronise his station.

Security officer M. Saravanan, 21, who lives in Larkin but works in Singapore, said he would not be going to the Causeway area once the new CIQ is fully operational. “It is far from the new exit.”

However, hardware shopowner L.K. Chun was optimistic the situation could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the traders.

“There will be far less congestion in the area and this can lure locals to the city.”