JOHOR BARU: The Immigration Department will step up enforcement to thwart daily attempts by people to leave the country by avoiding the Sultan Iskandar Immigration Complex (CIQ) and walking across the Causeway into Woodlands, Singapore.

Its director-general Datuk Mustafa Ibrahim said the department had found that a number of people are using the shortcut at the ground level of the CIQ that would take them along the KTM railway track on the Causeway that starts from JB Sentral to Woodlands.

After crossing the railway track, they can walk legally on the Singapore side of the Causeway all the way to the Woodlands CIQ.

This saves them time during peak congestion periods, when even a bus may be stuck for 45 minutes or more when making the 1km journey.

“We have conducted several raids, but for now, we have only given those caught a strict warning.

“After this, we will take sterner action on those found trespassing through the tracks,” he told reporters after a buka puasa event at the CIQ here on Saturday.

To date, 54 individuals have been detained for attempting to use the illegal route to exit the country, including three who were nabbed two days ago.

“We will also discuss the matter with the National Security Council, including evaluating suggestions for the illegal route to be cordoned off.

“However, we have yet to trace the owner of the land where these people have been trespassing through,” added Mustafa.

Resource : The Star Online