LAWAS: The Sarawak government is actively devising short-term strategies to reduce traffic congestion at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex (ICQS) in Merapok here.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said this is to address checkpoint congestion here, in which Merapok recorded the second highest traffic volume after Sungai Tujuh ICQS.
“For the long term, we will study how we can improve the passage facilities here to avoid serious congestion issues, especially during peak times,” he told reporters at Mengkalap Trusan ICQS here on Thursday (May 2).
Lee added that the Sarawak Immigration Department will discuss with the Brunei government in making long-term plans for ICQS in Sungai Tujuh, Pandaruan, Mengkalap, and Merapok.
However, he said while the Sarawak government is actively involved in finding solutions, these ICQS facilities fall under federal jurisdiction.
Regarding ICQS Sungai Tujuh, Lee said the Sarawak government has allocated RM4 million specifically to address congestion here.
“We have studied the issues at Sungai Tujuh to reduce border congestion. For the short term, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has allocated RM4 million, which includes measures like installing additional counters to tackle this issue,” he said.
In 2023, the Mengkalab border saw a total of 195,687 vehicles entering and exiting, while from January to April this year, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Lawas recorded 73,221 vehicle movements across the border.
During the same period, the Mengkalab and Merapok borders in Lawas witnessed a combined total of 466,446 visitor movements.
