| Azlan Othman |

PUJUT State Assemblyman (ADUN) Dr Ting Tiong Choon speaking about the long queue at the entrance of the control post at the Sungai Tujoh ICQ Border Post, urged users to be patient.

Dr Ting said he and the Malaysian Customs apologise for the inconvenience and hoped that the users would be patient as it was only during a two-month trial period.

He said the long queue was due to the large number of vehicles coming to Miri through Sungai Tujoh on weekends or on Brunei’s public holidays.

The number of foreign vehicles, especially from Brunei that entered through the Sungai Tujoh ICQ of Border Control, reached 100 to 200 vehicles during ordinary days. However, the number increased and sometimes over 1,000 vehicles entered Miri, especially during payday or during a public holiday in Brunei Darussalam, Dr Ting said.

The Vehicle Monitoring System (VMS) trial in Sungai Tujoh is the first of its kind in Sarawak and if successful, will continue to be implemented at this border post, before being expanded to other control posts across the state.

Brunei residents or other foreign nationals are required to fill in data information about their vehicle licence, driver’s licence and passport for the VMS application. It will be valid for three months.

“After the expiry of three months, they (foreigners) need to renew it online. One of the reasons for the implementation of the VMS is to prevent any changes made to the vehicle and to avoid being misused to enter the state,” Dr Ting said.

He said in addition, VMS will facilitate authorities to inspect foreign vehicle movements in Malaysia, especially Sarawak, to know their period of stay in Sarawak and detect their locations.

“Foreign tourists are very important to Miri’s economy, especially those from Brunei Darussalam. Hence we want to ensure their journey through the entrance at the border control post at Sungai Tujoh is smooth,” the assemblyman told Sarawak media at Sungai Tujoh ICQ Border Post during a visit on Wednesday.

His office received complaints of long queue at the entrance of the control post. The Malaysian government will implement the VMS with a digital scan pass, at the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine Control (ICQ) of Sungai Tujoh, for all foreign vehicles from Brunei Darussalam to Miri.

The implementation is currently in the two-month trial period from June 25 to August 26, 2019 to test its effectiveness and suitability.

“If this trial shows a successful feedback, the implementation will be carried out with a QR barcode scanner which will be installed at all inspection counters of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department in Sungai Tujoh,” he said.

“If this system is found to be appropriate, we will complete all customs counters with this barcode scanner and users can scan them past at customs counters without having to leave their cars. However, at the moment, motorists or drivers are forced to leave the vehicle and have a long queue for inspection at customs counters, causing a relatively long line of vehicles,” he said.