Home Ministry announces contingency plan to prevent Johor Causeway congestion on polling day

JOHOR BAHRU – The Home Ministry has drawn up a contingency plan to prevent congestion at the Johor Causeway and other entry points on polling day for the Johor state election on July 11.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry has established a special task force to prepare for any potential disruptions during the ongoing transition from the Malaysian Immigration System (MyIMMs) to the National Integrated Immigration System (MyNIISe).

He said the current immigration system remains in use while the migration to the new platform is still underway, with the ministry’s immediate priority being to ensure smooth cross-border movement on polling day.

“I want to clarify that we are still using the existing system because the transition to the new system is ongoing.

“There remains a possibility of disruptions during the migration process. Our focus now is to ensure that any disruptions can be avoided on polling day, July 11.

“The ministry has formed a special task force to address any potential issues should disruptions occur. Of course, we hope that will not happen.

“However, if they do, we have contingency measures in place, including Plan A and Plan B. Those are the instructions I have given to the ministry,” he told reporters after the Johor state election nomination process at the Puteri Wangsa nomination centre on Saturday.

Saifuddin was responding to questions on the possibility of congestion at the Johor Causeway, as thousands of Johoreans working in Singapore are expected to return home to cast their votes.

On whether a dedicated immigration lane would be introduced for Malaysian voters returning from Singapore, he said the government would consider all necessary measures to facilitate their journey.

“We will explore every possible initiative if needed, including providing dedicated lanes to make it easier for Malaysians working in Singapore to return home and fulfil their civic responsibility,” he said.

In a separate development, Saifuddin said Pakatan Harapan (PH) hopes to form a Johor state government that works in tandem with the Federal Government if it is given the mandate to govern the state.

He said alignment between the two administrations is crucial to ensure development policies and projects can be implemented smoothly without unnecessary obstacles.

“We want Johor to continue benefiting from the Federal Government’s policies and development projects. We do not want plans at the federal level to face unnecessary hurdles at the state level,” he said.