If you travel frequently across the causeway to Malaysia, you may want to consider getting a Touch ’n Go (TnG) card. Similiar to the EZLink card used in Singapore, TnG card allows a convenient mode of toll fee payment by contacting the TnG card against the card reader. The correct toll fees will be deducted from the card and this eradicates the hassle of queuing and fumbling of dollar notes and coins for payments.

Touch and Go (TnG) Card

TnG Card can be purchased from the following agents in Johor:

For more information on TnG Card, visit the website here:
http://www.touchngo.com.my/WhatTNG.html

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Over the next few months, I will be adding additional post on common Malay phases that will be useful to travelers to Johor Bahru (Johor Baru). For a start, let’s learn to count!

The following book is also useful to get started in learning Malay Phases:

Happy learning!

Note the following:
1. This timing is a rough guide and is indicative only.
2. Actual timings can be skewed by factors such as public holidays and weather.
3. Timings are complied by various data from friends so I will be refining the timings as more feedback comes in. Feel free to share your feedback with me too.

Driving Timings/Duration

Public Transport Timings/Duration

Note: Do not brush off this requirement thinking that Malaysian officers can easily be bribed with RM$50 if you are caught. In recent times, officers are less inclined to take bribes and they may even slap you with an additional bribery offence. There are also situations when the officer has taken the bribe but still proceed with your offence paperwork.

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Very encouragingly, the Malaysian Government has kept its word on a periodic review of fuel prices in line with market prices. Pump prices have eased with the current price cut being the 5th since the 41% price hike in June 2008.

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Woodlands Custom (For Non-Drivers)
1. If you are a Singaporean and you are eligible to use the automated thumbprint clearance, ALL the gates are now eligible for usage, even though only the extreme left lanes (for both departure and arrival from Johor Bahru) are labeled “For Singapore Passports”. This applies for both the incoming and outgoing gates. Yes, start queuing at the gates that most Malaysians with access cards have been using.

Public Transport
1. If you are traveling out from Johor Bahru to Singapore but there is a very long queue for SBS Bus 160/170 or CWLink Buses, try to spot if there are any SMRT Bus 950 making its way to the bus queue. Unlike SBS 160/170 or CWLink (which takes a long boarding time as they only allow boarding at the front door), there is no definite queue for SMRT Bus 950. Neither is there any bus conductor organising the crowd. Case of “free for all”. If you aggressive enough, you can get onto SMRT Bus 950 without queuing.

2. If you are traveling out from Johor Bahru to Singapore, why not pay in Ringgit? For RM0.90 (just for a trip across the causeway), this is cheaper than using your EZLink card to pay in Sing$. SBS and SMRT buses accept Ringgit as bus fee when you board in Johor Bahru.

3. Do not feel like waiting? Singapore-Johor Express (SJE) bus is actually boardable for RM2.50.

4. If you are in a terrible rush to cross the causeway from Johor Bahru (Johor Baru, Johore Bahru, Johor Baharu) to Singapore, some of the blue colour Bus Kilang are available for boarding. You are actually not supposed to board them but because some of these buses pick up workers who does not don a uniform, the bus driver may not question you when you board the bus. At your own risk.

Johor Custom (For non-drivers)
1. If you are a Singaporean traveling to Johor Bahru, try to queue at the extreme left lane at the Johor Bahru custom. This is one of the most defined queue so will prevent the risk of “lane merging” (where 2 lanes merges into 1 lane). In addition, this is the booth that is stationed upfront and the queue is actually shorter if you horizontally align yourself against other queues.

2. If you are a Singaporean traveling out from Johor Bahru, be mindful that there are many available queues further away from the ascending escalator. The normal tendency is for Singaporeans to queue at the nearest booth and jam up the escalator exit. Try to move deeper in and locate the shortest queues.

Driving
1. If you are driving in to Johor Bahru regularly, it makes sense to apply for the touch and go (TnG) card which saves your 30sen per entry.

2. If you do not like aggressive driving, use the Johor Bahru lorry custom when returning to Singapore. This custom opens from 4pm on Weekends and the queue is much more defined. Take the left exit after Plaza Pelangi towards Johor Custom. You live longer with the calm you have at the lorry lane. In addition, your side mirrors are now safe (if you know what I mean).
 
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True “Classic” Cases

1. Stolen BMW
A middle aged man parked his Singapore registered BMW near Jalan Tebrau (near the hawker center that is a famous hunt for cheap seafood) and got out of his car to make a phone call. Barely stepping out of the car, a man pushed the driver away, rushed in the car and drove it away, leaving the victim helplessly chasing and shouting. As with most other cases, the car was never recovered and the culprit not caught.
 
2. Snatch Thief

Driving home from work at night, Angeline pulled over her car just in front of her house (near Molek), waiting for the house gate to open. All of a sudden, someone smashed her glass window of her front door and snatched her Gucci bag away. Angeline was too shocked to react. Her family members, hearing the commotion quickly came outside of the house to calm the nerves of Angeline. The thief had by then has already scooted off on his motorcycle.
 

True Recent Cases

1. House Burglary (Taman Sentosa)

Steven always makes sure that his house is locked before leaving for work. He came back one day from work to find his house ransacked and his valuables gone. His neighbour saw a blue colour car parked in the house a few hours back but did not suspect anything because the 2 chinese man looked so calm that she thought are just visiting friends. 2 policemen carrying mid-sized weapons came shortly after Steven called the police. However, they refused to go into the house to investigate, fearing that the bugler could still be inside the house and could harm them (?!!). Steven had to lead the policemen into the house himself for them to take photos and gather evidence.
 
 2. House Burglary

Mrs. X (not sure of the name) was with her 2 year old daughter at home when someone suddenly lashes a knife in front of her neck. In a matter a 30minutes, the bugler tied up Mrs. X and her daughter and made away with RM$10,000 worth of valuables. Police investigation revealed that while the house doors are locked, the bugler came through the roof (yes, the roof) via removal of scaffolding and tiles.
 
3. Snatch Thief

Mr. Z (not sure of the name) was having his breakfast at a coffeshop when someone came by, snatched away his wallet he left on the table and ran away. Mr. Z managed to chase down the thief with the help of passer-bys. When the police arrived at the scene to detain the thief, he was already half-dead. So angry is the mob of people who witnessed the incident that they continued to attack the thief, even though he was already soaked in blood and pleading for his life.
 
 
It is sad to know that despite rampant occurrence of crimes, the police in Johor Bahru are to a large part still ineffective in crime maintenance and does not provide the necessary confidence and sense of security to the neighbourhoods.

While JB is generally still safe, below are some guiding principles that should be adhered to when you are visiting Johor Bahru to ensure that you have an incident free trip. Remember, your owe your safety to yourself and common sense applies, just like you are visiting any European or American city. May you have a happy (and safe!) Johor Bahru Hunt!
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Guiding Principles

1. If you are driving, the golden principle is to always lock your car doors (all 4 of them) the moment you and your passengers are in the car.

2. If you are parking your car for an extended duration (> 2 hours), use a steering lock. Amazon.com sells cheap steering locks that can be purchased here:

3. If you are still paranoid, it does not hurt to keep some self-defence weapon on the car.

4. Never leave any loose change or your valuables on dining tables, even if you intend to leave them just in front of you.

5. Do not sling your bags in a manner that can be easily snatched away.

6. Do not display valuables or carry yourself in a manner that looks like you have valuables on you.

7. Avoid deserted lanes and keep to main roads whenever possible at night. Drive in a convoy where possible.

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Starting early September 2008, motorcar drivers will only be able to access Woodlands Custom via Woodlands Centre road outside restricted timimgs. Motorcyclist will be barred altogether from using the Woodlands Centre road access to Woodlands Custom.

Restriction Timings:
Motorcycles and heavy vehicles
Whole day barred from accessing Woodlands Custom via Woodlands Centre Road

Other Vehicles (including cars)
Mon-Fri (4pm-10pm)
Sat, Sun and PHs (10am-10pm)

Public Transport (SMRT/SBS buses)
No Restriction Timings

Refering to the Google Map above, this means that the only routes that you can access freely without restrictions on timing will be via Woodlands Road and BKE.

Boon to the residents and bane to motorcyclists/drivers.

Related Links: http://www.lta.gov.sg/images/Woodlands_new_traffic_scheme.pdf

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But on some occasions, due to insufficient demand, you will need to wait for 3 other “comrades” to join you on the joy ride. If you are feeling rich, you can pay S$40 flat so that there will be no lost “income” for the driver.

Yet another alternative? Motorcycle.

Recently, there have been Motorcycle touts operating outside the “cartel”, offering independent services. For just RM$20, they offer you a more “thrilling” joy ride as itinerary involves zig-zaging between vehicle’s path as well as curious stares when you are getting onto the motorcycle. On an exception day, throw in the expletives from the “cartel” for not taking their services.

 Of course, this assumes that the motorcyclist is not intending to cause you any serious trouble by whizzing pass the custom booth without any stamping on your passport.

Time Saved: 1 hour
Cost: RM$20.00 - negotiable
Risks:
0.01% chance that your life is lost due to reckless riding
1.00% chance that the motorcycle may break down
10.0% chance that you will feel dizzy after the ride
100% chance that you will scratch your head, if you use the helmet provided.

Conclusion: Not worth it.

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It is official. From today onwards, you are required to fill in the White Card (Immigration Card/ Arrival Card/ White Form) for entry into Johor Bahru (Johor Baru, Johore Bahru, Johor Baharu). As the new White Card/ Form is not yet available, the Malaysian Customs will be using the old White Cards. The launch of the new White Card forms will be announced at a later date.

Well, this means that you can still use those old white card forms that you have been putting aside in your drawers. If you have already thrown them away, get them (or buy them at RM$1/ card from the touts) at the Malaysian Custom.

At a snapshot, here are the sequence of events relating to the White Card requirements:

19th Jan 2008:
Malaysian Authorities officially removed the White Card entry requirements into Johor Bahru. This is a boon to all Singaporeans as the waiting time at the Johor Custom is effectively halved with the fasting clearing time.

Mid Jun 2008: Rumours circulate that the White Card will be required again.

15th Aug 2008: White Card requirement is re-implemented. Whether you are driving, taking bus or walking in across the Causeway, long queues at the Johor Customs are back!

Check back to www.limsimi.com for more updates on the Custom conditions.

Related Posts:
1. http://www.limsimi.com/Links/Malaysia_Latest_White_Card_Requirement.htm
2. http://www.limsimi.com/category/general-information/
3. http://www.limsimi.com/2008/07/12/arrival-card-immigration-card-white-card-requirement-for-entry-into-johor-bahru/

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