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SINGAPORE: Malaysia cannot interfere with the stringent inspection of commuters at the checkpoints here as this is deemed a security matter, Malaysian High Commissioner Datuk N. Parameswaran said.
He said while he sympathised with the plight of thousands of commuters, especially lorry drivers, who were stuck for hours at the checkpoints, there were other modes of transport.He instead hoped that the 'human side' of the problem could be addressed, such as placing portable toilets, allowing lorry drivers to change crew after certain hours and also for food to be provided for lorries stuck at the Causeway and Second Link.
"We must understand that no country will compromise when it comes to security and Singapore is presently on a massive island-wide manhunt to locate the Indonesian Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari," Parameswaran said in an interview.
The massive queues were the result of heightened security checks after the terrorist escaped late last month.
"If transporting by land is difficult, there are other options, including the use of the railway services," he said, adding that he knew about the massive jams as he too used the Second Link or Causeway.
On claims by Malaysians that they were now forced to provide their fingerprints at the checkpoints, he said this was nothing new as frequent travellers into Singapore were issued a card similar to Malaysia's Touch & Go, which required them to place their fingers on a biometric reader.
Johor Baru Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCCI) president Datuk Soh Poh Sheng has highlighted the problem of heavy vehicles being held up for as long as 38 hours at the Singapore checkpoint, delaying the transportation of goods.
He claimed that lorries and trucks, which used to make three to four trips to the republic in two days, could now do only one or two trips in three days.
Soh said lorry drivers did not have time to eat or even go for toilet breaks.
At least 2,300 lorries transport goods from Malaysia to Singapore daily.
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