BUKIT KAYU HITAM, June 1 — Effective January 1, 2019, the new Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex here will implement 24-hour operations when the construction of the second phase is completed on December 31, 2018.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the opening of the border for 24 hours was the result of a mutual agreement with the Thai government.
“The construction of the first phase of the new complex will be completed by September 1 this year and this will extend the operation hours between 18 hours and 20 hours a day from September 3 onwards.
“The second phase will be completed on December 31, 2018, that will enable the border gate to be opened for 24 hours a day,” he said during a visit to the Integrated ICQS construction site here today.
Also present were Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah.
Elaborating, Ahmad Zahid said he was asked by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to discuss with the Thai government for permission to open a 24-hour route at the border.
“As a result of the meeting in Thailand, they agreed to extend border-crossing hours from 18 to 20, latest by Sept 3, and subsequently to 24 hours on Jan 1, 2019,” he said.
On April 13, Dr Ahmad Zahid had visited ICQS, which at the time, was 21 per cent delayed in its construction.
Following the visit, he directed for the construction of the ICQS building worth RM425 million to be speeded up, and the delay has since been reduced to 9 per cent.
“The construction is still going according to plan, although there have been a few problems,” he said.
When asked if he was satisfied with the current completion rate of the new complex, Ahmad Zahid said he would only be satisfied once it was 100 per cent built.
“I will come back here on Sept 3 to see if the complex is completed as promised.
“I’ll be getting a weekly report on the progress of the construction from the developer, the Home Ministry and the agencies involved,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said he would ensure that the reports received are not merely on paper, and that the ministry’s officers would visit the site to confirm the matter.
He was confident that the complex, upon its completion, would facilitate over 3.5 million people to cross the border each year.
“It can also solve the problems of traffic congestion and lack of parking spaces,” he said. — Bernama
