SINGAPORE, Nov 1 — Travellers heading into Malaysia over the Deepavali long weekend have been warned to expect heavy congestion and lengthy delays at Singapore’s Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints, with heightened security checks likely to add to waiting times.
Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issued the warning today ahead of the November 6 to 9 holiday period, urging motorists to avoid peak travel hours after some travellers faced waits of up to three hours during the September school holidays.
According to The Straits Times, the advisory comes as Singapore prepares for another surge in cross-border traffic, following a record-breaking day in September when more than 599,000 travellers passed through the two land checkpoints.
Deepavali falls on Sunday, November 8, with the following Monday designated a public holiday in Singapore.
The ICA said travellers should plan their journeys in advance and consider travelling outside peak periods to avoid prolonged queues.
It cautioned that immigration clearance could take longer because of enhanced security measures introduced on February 28 amid heightened global security concerns, particularly developments in the Middle East.
The warning follows an exceptionally busy September school holiday period, when more than 6.1 million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints between September 4 and 14.
Traffic peaked on September 4, with more than 599,000 crossings recorded in a single day, surpassing the previous record of more than 598,000 on June 19.
Motorists travelling during peak periods, including early mornings and late evenings, experienced immigration clearance delays of up to three hours.
The ICA urged travellers to check traffic conditions before setting off and encouraged them to generate QR codes through the MyICA mobile application for “faster and more seamless immigration clearance”.
Authorities also warned motorists against ignoring checkpoint officers’ instructions or breaching traffic regulations.
The ICA said firm action would be taken against travellers who failed to comply with officers’ directions or committed traffic offences at the checkpoints.
The advisory comes ahead of what is expected to be another busy holiday period at the two crossings, which serve as major gateways between Singapore and Johor.
