Johor Bahru CIQ/ Custom Complex - Chinese New Year Litmus Test

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Johor Bahru CIQ/ Custom Complex – Chinese New Year Litmus Test

January 22nd, 2009 lawrence.gan

This Chinese New Year, Johor Bahru CIQ/ Custom Complex will be going through its ultimate litmus test. Starting 23rd Jan 2009 (Friday), hordes of people will be making their way from Singapore to all parts of Malaysia for CNY visiting (Ipoh, Muar, Segamat, Cha-Ah, Johor Bahru, Kluang, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur…). And all these people have one thing in common – they do not wish to spend a good part of CNY stuck in the custom jam.

There is no perfect guessing on when is the best time to travel to Johor Bahru this CNY. For example, the massive jam that was predicted during the first F1 race held in Singapore on 27th Sep 2008 did not materialise. Johor Bahru CIQ has not been exactly efficient either, making it a worrying thought on the back of everyone’s mind.

Here are some helpful guidelines if you are planning a trip to Malaysia this CNY:

1. Go in early if you can (5am – 7.30am). You will start to see a sizable crowd from 8am onwards at both the Singapore and Johor Custom (towards Johor Bahru).
2. Consider the 2nd Link as an option. Use LTA’s “Live Webcam” below as a guide on which custom has a smoother traffic flow.

“LIVE” Webcam

Woodlands Custom	Tuas Checkpoint
Woodlands Custom	Tuas Checkpoint
Causeway	Tuas Second Link

In addition, to smoothen your journey:
1. Please have your white card/ White form ready. You do not want people queuing up behind cursing at you on the 1st day of Chinese New Year!!
2. Make sure you have the Touch and Go card ready.
3. Have some magazines/newspaper ready in case you and your passengers are stuck in the jam.
4. Buckle up!
5. Note down some essential information here.

Do check back on Limsimi.com. If there are any serious jams, we will be posting about it as an announcement.

Finally, the entire team at Limsimi.com: Florence, Stephen and myself wish all of you a very Happy New Year. Have a safe journey and a happy reunion dinner. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

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Entry Filed under: New Johor Bahru Custom/CIQ Complex

7 Comments Add your own

1. felicia | January 23rd, 2009 at 6:50 PM

I just went in to JB. Low volume jam. Quite ok.. think the Malaysian Authorities are very alert for this period. Else the papers will report about them again.

[Reply]
2. Nail | March 3rd, 2009 at 12:42 AM

Stumbled upon this very interesting blog while looking for info on the new CIQ. Great job, guys!

Do you have any information on taking a taxis from JB-SG-JB and the fares charged?

I need to reach Bugis MRT station by 10am on 14/03. How long is the journey from CTSQ to Bugis if I were to take a taxi or a bus?

Thanks for your help!

[Reply]
admin Reply:
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Hi Nail, if you want to take taxi, go to Kotaraya II terminal. There are yellow cabs there that ply from JB to Queens Street direct.
JB->SG cost RM$10 (If you car pool.. wait for 3 other passengers) or RM$40 (if you do not want to carpool).
SG->JB cost S$10 (If you car pool.. wait for 3 other passengers) or S$40 (if you do not want to carpool).

One way trip takes about 45minutes (if there are no custom jams). The red colour cabs that you commonly see cannot enter Singapore.

[Reply]
admin Reply:
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Want to add that taking bus is actually fine, and cheaper. From City Square, walk to the new Johor Bahru CIQ to clear your passport. Take Bus 170, Singapore Johor Express (SJE) or CW2 from the new Johor Bahru CIQ to Queen’s Street (Can walk to Bugis MRT from there). Cost RM$2.40 and will take you about 1 hour (including custom clearance at Singapore).

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3. Nail | March 5th, 2009 at 11:04 PM

Thks for the info! Looking fwd to my SG trip. Have decided to take a bus thr instead since it’s so much cheaper. Hope I have enough stamina to walk all the way from to the city square to the JB CIQ. Haha!!!

[Reply]
admin Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 10:55 AM
As long as the escalator does not break down, the walk is bearable.

[Reply]
4. R32 | June 7th, 2010 at 1:44 PM

Hi

I’m staying at the peninsular Hotel on colemans street and would like to visit JB this weekend. How can I go about it please??

Cheers

[Reply]