Motorcyclists voice their frustration over longer delays at checkpoints

JOHOR BARU: Many MBike users have urged the authorities to revive the now defunct system to overcome the traffic chaos at the motorcycle lanes at both land checkpoints with Singapore.

They said the manual system being used currently is not ideal as it could lead to security lapses.

Regular commuter Rosli Mohammad, 45, who has been using the MBike system since its inception in 2016, said the system was convenient as bikers just needed to scan their thumbprints at the reader at the entry and exit lanes.

“In the past, there have been glitches with one or two machines not functioning.

“However, since March 1, all the lanes are not working,” he lamented, expressing concern that the “loophole” could enable those who commit crimes to exit the country.

Motorcyclist Daniel Ooi, 58, who has been travelling to Singapore to work for over three decades, said the MBike had proven to be convenient.

“But these days, I have to leave an hour earlier as the manual checking of passport takes time. In the past, the MBike cleared us within seconds,” he pointed out.

Ooi said he felt for the Immigration personnel who had to inhale exhaust fumes at the manual counters.

Other frequent travellers took to social media to express their frustration over the congestion problem at the two land checkpoints.

A user with profile name Shah Speedmart said motorcyclists might be forced to speed to avoid being late for work and this posed a safety risk.

“When will the MBike problem be resolved? Please think. People are going out in the morning to earn a living, and this problem has yet to be solved.

“Many riders are worried that they will be late because of the MBike issue and are speeding. They are rushing. A simple mistake could cost a life. Please think,” said the post in the Malaysia-Singapore Border Crosser Facebook Group.

Another user under the profile name Faizul Azim said motorcyclists should brace for longer waiting periods.

Another user, Southern Vengers, said it is an embarrassing situation, especially as the state government is working to improve the transportation system.

“The Mentri Besar went all the way to Shenzhen in a bid to upgrade the state’s transportation system, but the federal authorities do not seem to care about what’s happening at the busiest border in the world,” the user wrote.