KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department will open the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, an hour earlier at 6am starting Dec 1.
However, Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the earlier opening of the ICQS counters would only be implemented once approval was secured from Thai authorities, as it involved cross-border movements.
The move is aimed at facilitating the daily commute of nearly 500 Thai students attending schools in Malaysia and preventing congestion at the Rantau Panjang ICQS counters, which could delay students from reaching school on time.
Zakaria said the issue would be discussed at the National Border Control Committee meeting, typically held twice a year, but convened on an urgent basis when needed.
The department is also prepared to assist Malaysian students residing in Thailand who commute daily to schools in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, starting next month.
This includes issuing limited passports or border passes for an annual fee of RM10.
"The enforcement of the ban on illegal crossings along the Sungai Golok means that nearly 500 Malaysian students living in Golok, Thailand, will need to use legal routes to travel to school from Dec 1.
They will have to pass through the Rantau Panjang ICQS and undergo immigration checks, similar to any official border entry point," he said.
"To ease their commute, we are considering starting ICQS operations an hour earlier or setting up a special lane for students to avoid delays caused by congestion."
Currently, the Rantau Panjang ICQS operates from 7am to 10pm, with any changes to its operating hours contingent on mutual agreement between Malaysia and Thailand.
The issue emerged after nearly 500 students who cross Sungai Golok by boat daily to attend school in Malaysia faced uncertainty following the police announcement that, starting Dec 1, they would be cracking down on individuals using illegal crossings at the Malaysia-Thailand border.
Those caught violating Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act, including students who previously used these illegal crossings to reach school, could face fines of up to RM10,000 upon conviction.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has expressed concern over the issue, given the large number of students affected.
In response, Zakaria said the department was awaiting further developments, including potentially submitting a request to Thai authorities to discuss the matter and reach an agreement.