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The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
U-turns, bans await motorists who jump the queue at Singapore land checkpoints
SINGAPORE: Drivers might think they are saving precious minutes when jumping queues at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. But when they get stopped by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers, they will face having to make a U-turn and rejoin the queue. They could also be blacklisted and face further disciplinary action from the authorities. The June school holidays have begun and traffic is expected to be heavy at both land checkpoints. To ensure a smooth travelling experience, ICA has reminded motorists about proper road etiquette. Speaking to reporters via a virtual interview on May 28, Inspector Mardiana Masdar, 43, team leader at the Integrated Operations Centre at Woodlands Checkpoint, said queue-jumping increases during peak hours when the traffic tailback is very bad. It is an issue ICA officers take very seriously, she added. Insp Mardiana said ground officers who spot vehicles jumping queues will alert the team at the operations centre, who will relay this information to traffic controllers near the checkpoint to direct them to make a U-turn to rejoin the queue. She said: 'If they are non-compliant, we will refer them to our Secondary Office, where we are able to show them CCTV footage of them cutting queues.' Non-compliant culprits can face bans from entering the checkpoints using their vehicles and can only do so by other means. In June 2023, a Malaysian driver – who was travelling from Singapore to Malaysia via the Woodlands Checkpoint – had refused to make a U-turn, and even drove off after being caught by ICA for trying to jump the queue. Because of his non-compliance and dangerous driving, the driver and car were banned from entering Singapore. In a statement on May 23, ICA said traffic is expected to be very heavy at both land checkpoints during the June school holidays, particularly during the Hari Raya Haji weekend between June 6 and June 9. ICA noted that during the Vesak Day long weekend between May 8 and May 13, more than three million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. Traveller volume peaked on May 9, with more than 546,000 travellers clearing immigration at both checkpoints in one day. Earlier, there were traffic jams lasting as long as five hours at the two checkpoints on Polling Day on May 3. May 1 was a Labour Day public holiday while May 5 was a school holiday. On Dec 20, 2024, a record number of more than 562,000 travellers crossed the land checkpoints within a day. Inspector Eileen Neo Hui Xin, 26, an assessment and investigation officer at Woodlands Checkpoint, said motorists can get more frustrated during busy periods due to long waits that can last several hours. She said ICA officers will usually ignore motorists who take out their frustrations on them. But when motorists become abusive, the culprits will be directed to the Secondary Office for further interviews and investigations. Insp Neo said traffic congestion can also happen when it rains. Motorcyclists who enter through automated lanes may face issues getting the system to detect their wet fingerprints. They would then have to be manually cleared, causing a jam. Impatient motorists honking their horns add to the chaos. With operations very fast-paced and demanding during peak hours, Insp Neo said it takes a lot of coordination, quick decision-making and a constant awareness to keep operations running smoothly. She said: 'Balancing efficiency with security standards is tough, but it also makes the work fulfilling. Everyone wants to travel smoothly. And during peak periods, it is very difficult to manage people's expectations and to manage the ground properly. 'We have to balance both to protect our border security and also meet (travellers') expectations.' To ensure a smoother journey, ICA advised travellers not to bring prohibited or controlled items. Checkpoint Inspector (1) Kendri Parwira Suhairi, 38, a first response team officer, said all ICA officers at the checkpoints are trained to identify dubious travellers based on indicators like their behaviour. He remembered a Singaporean couple who arrived several months ago with batons they tried to pass off as tapping rods for defect checks in new homes. 'At one glance, I knew that was not the case,' he said. They were referred to the police and the items were deemed to be controlled items. CI (1) Kendri noted that during peak periods, the volume of people does not make security operations at the checkpoints any easier. But, he added, 'we remain vigilant 24/7. At the end of the day, we are the first line of defence at the border'. - The Straits Times/ANN
New Paper
3 days ago
- New Paper
U-turns, bans await motorists who jump queue at land checkpoints
Drivers might think they are saving precious minutes when jumping queues at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. But when they get stopped by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers, they will face having to make a U-turn and rejoin the queue. They could also be blacklisted and face further disciplinary action from the authorities. The June school holidays have begun and traffic is expected to be heavy at both land checkpoints. To ensure a smooth travelling experience, ICA has reminded motorists about proper road etiquette. Speaking to reporters via a virtual interview on May 28, Inspector Mardiana Masdar, 43, team leader at the Integrated Operations Centre at Woodlands Checkpoint, said queue-jumping increases during peak hours when the traffic tailback is very bad. It is an issue ICA officers take very seriously, she added. Insp Mardiana said ground officers who spot vehicles jumping queues will alert the team at the operations centre, who will relay this information to traffic controllers near the checkpoint to direct them to make a U-turn to rejoin the queue. She said: "If they are non-compliant, we will refer them to our Secondary Office, where we are able to show them CCTV footage of them cutting queues." Non-compliant culprits can face bans from entering the checkpoints using their vehicles and can only do so by other means. In June 2023, a Malaysian driver - who was travelling from Singapore to Malaysia via the Woodlands Checkpoint - had refused to make a U-turn, and even drove off after being caught by ICA for trying to jump the queue. Because of his non-compliance and dangerous driving, the driver and car were banned from entering Singapore. In a statement on May 23, ICA said traffic is expected to be very heavy at both land checkpoints during the June school holidays, particularly during the Hari Raya Haji weekend between June 6 and June 9. ICA noted that during the Vesak Day long weekend between May 8 and May 13, more than three million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. Traveller volume peaked on May 9, with more than 546,000 travellers clearing immigration at both checkpoints in one day. Earlier, there were traffic jams lasting as long as five hours at the two checkpoints on Polling Day on May 3. May 1 was a Labour Day public holiday while May 5 was a school holiday. On Dec 20, 2024, a record number of more than 562,000 travellers crossed the land checkpoints within a day. Inspector Eileen Neo Hui Xin, 26, an assessment and investigation officer at Woodlands Checkpoint, said motorists can get more frustrated during busy periods due to long waits that can last several hours. She said ICA officers will usually ignore motorists who take out their frustrations on them. But when motorists become abusive, the culprits will be directed to the Secondary Office for further interviews and investigations. Insp Neo said traffic congestion can also happen when it rains. Motorcyclists who enter through automated lanes may face issues getting the system to detect their wet fingerprints. They would then have to be manually cleared, causing a jam. Impatient motorists honking their horns add to the chaos. With operations very fast-paced and demanding during peak hours, Insp Neo said it takes a lot of coordination, quick decision-making and a constant awareness to keep operations running smoothly. She said: "Balancing efficiency with security standards is tough, but it also makes the work fulfilling. Everyone wants to travel smoothly. And during peak periods, it is very difficult to manage people's expectations and to manage the ground properly. "We have to balance both to protect our border security and also meet (travellers') expectations." To ensure a smoother journey, ICA advised travellers not to bring prohibited or controlled items. Checkpoint Inspector (1) Kendri Parwira Suhairi, 38, a first response team officer, said all ICA officers at the checkpoints are trained to identify dubious travellers based on indicators like their behaviour. He remembered a Singaporean couple who arrived several months ago with batons they tried to pass off as tapping rods for defect checks in new homes. "At one glance, I knew that was not the case," he said. They were referred to the police and the items were deemed to be controlled items. CI (1) Kendri noted that during peak periods, the volume of people does not make security operations at the checkpoints any easier. But, he added, "we remain vigilant 24/7. At the end of the day, we are the first line of defence at the border".
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
U-turns, bans await motorists who jump the queue at land checkpoints: ICA
The June school holidays have begun and traffic is expected to be heavy at both of Singapore's land checkpoints. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SINGAPORE – Drivers might think they are saving precious minutes when jumping queues at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. But when they get stopped by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers, they will face having to make a U-turn and rejoin the queue. They could also be blacklisted and face further disciplinary action from the authorities. The June school holidays have begun and traffic is expected to be heavy at both land checkpoints. To ensure a smooth travelling experience, ICA has reminded motorists about proper road etiquette. Speaking to reporters via a virtual interview on May 28, Inspector Mardiana Masdar, 43, team leader at the Integrated Operations Centre at Woodlands Checkpoint, said queue-jumping increases during peak hours when the traffic tailback is very bad. It is an issue ICA officers take very seriously, she added. Insp Mardiana said ground officers who spot vehicles jumping queues will alert the team at the operations centre, who will relay this information to traffic controllers near the checkpoint to direct them to make a U-turn to rejoin the queue. She said: 'If they are non-compliant, we will refer them to our Secondary Office, where we are able to show them CCTV footage of them cutting queues.' Non-compliant culprits can face bans from entering the checkpoints using their vehicles and can only do so by other means . In June 2023, a Malaysian driver – who was travelling from Singapore to Malaysia via the Woodlands Checkpoint – had refused to make a U-turn, and even drove off after being caught by ICA for trying to jump the queue. Because of his non-compliance and dangerous driving, the driver and car were banned from entering Singapore. In a statement on May 23, ICA said traffic is expected to be very heavy at both land checkpoints during the June school holidays, particularly during the Hari Raya Haji weekend between June 6 and June 9. ICA noted that during the Vesak Day long weekend between May 8 and May 13, more than three million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. Traveller volume peaked on May 9, with more than 546,000 travellers clearing immigration at both checkpoints in one day. Earlier, there were traffic jams lasting as long as five hours at the two checkpoints on Polling Day on May 3. May 1 was a Labour Day public holiday while May 5 was a school holiday. On Dec 20, 2024, a record number of more than 562,000 travellers crossed the land checkpoints within a day. Inspector Eileen Neo Hui Xin, 26, an assessment and investigation officer at Woodlands Checkpoint, said motorists can get more frustrated during busy periods due to long waits that can last several hours. She said ICA officers will usually ignore motorists who take out their frustrations on them. But when motorists become abusive, the culprits will be directed to the Secondary Office for further interviews and investigations. Insp Neo said traffic congestion can also happen when it rains. Motorcyclists who enter through automated lanes may face issues getting the system to detect their wet fingerprints. They would then have to be manually cleared, causing a jam. Impatient motorists honking their horns add to the chaos. With operations very fast-paced and demanding during peak hours, Insp Neo said it takes a lot of coordination, quick decision-making and a constant awareness to keep operations running smoothly. She said: 'Balancing efficiency with security standards is tough, but it also makes the work fulfilling. Everyone wants to travel smoothly. And during peak periods, it is very difficult to manage people's expectations and to manage the ground properly. 'We have to balance both to protect our border security and also meet (travellers') expectations.' To ensure a smoother journey, ICA advised travellers not to bring prohibited or controlled items. Checkpoint Inspector (1) Kendri Parwira Suhairi, 38, a first response team officer, said all ICA officers at the checkpoints are trained to identify dubious travellers based on indicators like their behaviour. He remembered a Singaporean couple who arrived several months ago with batons they tried to pass off as tapping rods for defect checks in new homes. 'At one glance, I knew that was not the case,' he said. They were referred to the police and the items were deemed to be controlled items. CI (1) Kendri noted that during peak periods, the volume of people does not make security operations at the checkpoints any easier. But, he added, 'we remain vigilant 24/7. At the end of the day, we are the first line of defence at the border'. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Red Dot United to pay $900 removal fee for election posters found within 50m of polling stations
The Elections Department will consider waiving the fee if the posters prove to have been tampered with, as Red Dot United had earlier claimed. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Red Dot United to pay $900 removal fee for election posters found within 50m of polling stations SINGAPORE - Opposition party Red Dot United (RDU) will have to pay $900 to the Elections Department (ELD) for 18 election posters removed on Cooling-off Day. But ELD will consider waiving this fee if the posters prove to have been tampered with, as RDU had earlier claimed. On May 9, Ms Liyana Dhamirah, one of RDU's candidates for Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, posted a video about how some of her party's posters in the constituency had been moved without their knowledge. She said the posters had been deliberately taken down and re-tied in places that would breach guidelines, so the party would be fined. Traditional election advertising material, like election posters, are not allowed within 50m of polling stations to avoid unduly influencing voters. RDU told The Straits Times on May 9 that Ms Liyana's post was 'a personal reflection of her own frustration', but added that tampering seemed likely from its preliminary checks. In her post, Ms Liyana said she spent most of Cooling-off Day taking down posters. 'When we put them up, we used black zip ties. But when I went to take them down? White zip ties held them in place. That's not a coincidence,' she added. In response to ST's queries, ELD said on May 26 that it has advised RDU to make a police report if it suspects sabotage or mischief. It is prepared to consider waiving the $50 removal fee for each poster, if police investigations find the claims to be true. RDU said it will consult its central executive committee before deciding if it will pursue the matter. ELD also said it had continued to get complaints about RDU's posters in prohibited areas between 9pm on Cooling-off Day and the early hours of Polling Day. Between Nomination Day and 9pm on Cooling-off Day, parties have three hours to remove any posters that break the rules. On Polling Day, they have one hour to do so. If such breaches are not rectified within the given time, Aetos Security Management (Aetos) will remove the materials. ELD added that the Returning Officer waived the removal fee for posters removed on Polling Day, due to heavy rain that morning. The weather would have hampered parties' ability to rectify all breaches within an hour, and posed safety concerns for those doing so, ELD said. But the fee was not waived for the 18 posters Aetos removed on Cooling-off Day, it added. ST understands that RDU's deadline for paying the $900 removal fee is May 27. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
PM Wong set to unveil major Cabinet changes as 4G team, new faces step up
SINGAPORE: Fourth-generation (4G) ministers are expected to take over hefty portfolios held by the 3G in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, which is also set to bring new blood into the ranks of government. Several key leaders announced their retirement from politics at the recent general election, including Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and two 3G stalwarts – Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen. Meanwhile, new faces earmarked for government include a number of former top civil servants who were elected into the 15th term of Parliament and are likely to take up more junior roles. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is expected to announce a Cabinet reshuffle soon, based on precedent. His predecessors had typically done so about two to three weeks after an election. In 2020, then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced his new Cabinet on July 25, about two weeks after Polling Day on July 10. Office-holders were sworn in on July 27 that year. After Polling Day on Sept 11 in 2015, he announced his Cabinet on Sept 28, and the swearing-in ceremony was on Oct 1 that year. At past reshuffles, prime ministers have announced promotions, rotations and retirements among full ministers as well as ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries. (Clockwise from top left) Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Jeffrey Siow, Tampines GRC MP David Neo, East Coast GRC MP Dinesh Vasu Dash, Nee Soon GRC MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi, West Coast-Jurong West GRC MP Hamid Razak and Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC Goh Pei Ming. - PAP Many had expected a significant reshuffle in 2024 when PM Wong took over as head of government, similar to his predecessors. But this did not happen, with few changes made then. This could have been due to the extremely busy parliamentary term for the Government, which resulted in the broader succession plan being postponed, said the Institute of Policy Studies' senior research fellow Gillian Koh. Political observers said PM Wong now has the leeway to make more changes, after receiving a strong mandate from Singaporeans at the general election with the PAP winning 65.57 per cent of the popular vote. A major renewal At his first Cabinet reshuffle in 2024, PM Wong said he planned to rotate the 4G ministers and 'give them wider exposure and experience' if his Government was re-elected. Some would be able to step up and take over from senior colleagues in due course, while some of the junior office-holders could also take on more responsibilities, he said then. With the number of ministers likely to be about the same – 19 currently – as well as 37 office-holders overall, there are several gaps left by retiring senior figures that will have to be filled. The Defence Ministry will need new office-holders, given the retirement of Dr Ng and Heng Chee How, who was senior minister of state. There will likely also be a replacement for DPM Heng, who held the role of coordinating minister for economic policies as well until last May. Singapore has traditionally had two deputy prime ministers after a new prime minister's first general election. In 1991, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong had now SM Lee and Ong Teng Cheong at his side, while in 2006 SM Lee had Wong Kan Seng and S. Jayakumar. The retirement of Dr Maliki Osman, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Education, will also leave a gap. The Cabinet has had two Malay/Muslim full ministers since 2015, and at least five Malay/Muslim political office-holders since 1997. Independent political observer Felix Tan said the roles of deputy prime minister and defence minister are important positions that would require experienced hands to helm. There is a high likelihood that some of the current ministers will be shifted to these portfolios, allowing newer and younger MPs to take over their original roles, he added. As filling these spots will result in a chain of changes, more portfolio swops are on the cards. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong hinted at these at a press conference on May 16, where he said adjustments may be made to the composition of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce – which he chairs – when the new Cabinet line-up is announced. The current members of the task force include Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, who is also Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration; Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs; Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, who is also Second Minister for Trade and Industry; and Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat. PM Wong's predecessors took different approaches to reorganising their teams following their first election as PM. SM Lee made 25 changes – meaning promotions or rotations among political office-holders – when he took over as PM, and another 14 after his first election. ESM Goh, in contrast, made 10 changes when he took office and nine after his first election. Dr Felix Tan noted that ESM Goh's tenure came after founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's, so there was 'no need for a complete overhaul'. In contrast, SM Lee had more leeway to make changes as many members of his team had already served under two prime ministers. At PM Wong's first reshuffle, there was similarly no need for an overhaul of the current Cabinet, he said. Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said the minor reshuffle by PM Wong in 2024, and the fact that some ministers have been in their posts since 2020, sets the Cabinet up for a 'reset and rejuvenation'. 'We can expect the PM to use the resounding GE performance to make major changes to his Cabinet,' Associate Professor Tan added. Vote shares at the election may also factor into PM Wong's choices, said Dr Koh. She said: 'Electoral support would provide one factor, albeit not the only one, to consider who to elevate, who to place in which ministry. 'We could say that this strengthens the element of meritocracy – taking into account experience, performance in the roles someone has had as political office-holder, and election process and results to reflect how the ground takes to a person.' A younger Cabinet, more women in political office Several new faces were earmarked for political office by PM Wong and other senior PAP leaders over the course of the election. These include public-sector leaders who had resigned in the run-up to the polls, such as permanent secretary Jeffrey Siow, army chief David Neo, ministry deputy secretary Jasmin Lau, Agency for Integrated Care chief Dinesh Vasu Dash, armed forces chief of staff – joint staff Goh Pei Ming and ministry director Goh Hanyan. From the private sector, orthopaedic surgeon Hamid Razak and former Nominated MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi were also tipped for office. Prof Tan said it is a 'natural development' that the average age of political office-holders will dip at this reshuffle. He pointed to the new crop of PAP MPs having an average age of about 40, and the retirement of senior leaders such as SM Teo and Dr Ng. In the past, the average age of all political office-holders fell after each new prime minister's first election. In 1991 – ESM Goh's first election as prime minister – this went from 48.8 to 47.6. After SM Lee's first election in 2006, it decreased from 52.2 to 51.2. PM Wong's current crop has an average age of 54.9. Historical data also shows that the newcomers to government are typically almost 10 years younger on average than the group as a whole. In 1991, the average age of newcomers was 38, while in 2006 it was 43. The proportion of men in Cabinet and government has decreased over the years, though slowly. About 25 per cent of office-holders now are women, with three female ministers who are aged between 56 and 62 – Teo, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah. Political observers said there may not be new female ministers this time round, but they expect more female junior office-holders to be appointed. 'There is the need to ensure a reliable pipeline of women ministers to renew the current ranks and to have continuity,' said Prof Tan, adding that the growing role of women in politics is a given today. PM Wong had emphasised the need to bring in more women MPs ahead of the general election. Dr Tan said: 'One can safely say that he has kept to the promise that he would also field more women candidates. Hence, we can be certain that there will be more women in higher positions.' Lau and Goh are among the new female MPs tipped for office. Retooling for the future PM Wong's reshuffle is also meant to prepare the Government to tackle an increasingly challenging environment, observers said. SMU's Prof Tan said that as the pace and demands on political office-holders increase, the 'lifespan' of a ministerial appointment will likely not be as long as in the 1980s and 1990s. Regular refreshing can strengthen the Cabinet as part of the perpetual cycle of leadership development, renewal and succession, he added. For the new office-holders, the focus will be on broad exposure and to learn about the whole-of-government approach in policymaking, he said. The new government will have to deal with external risks like the global trade war, while also pushing ahead with the Forward Singapore agenda that will reshape Singaporeans' way of life across sectors such as education, healthcare and jobs. Dr Koh said there could be a few more tweaks to the team in about a year to fine-tune the line-up. PM Wong's government has to tread the line between dependability and agility, she added. She said: 'There has to be things we can depend on, and yet, things we know can be switched out to respond quickly to the unpredictable external environment. 'Government leaders led by PM Wong have to be able to bring diverse groups around a common agenda, purpose and governance process.' - The Straits Times/ANN
