BUKIT KAYU HITAM: Traffic at the Bukit Kayu Hitam and Kota Putra Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) complexes slowed to a crawl today as Malaysians headed to Thailand for Christmas and year-end holidays.
At the two crossings in Kubang Pasu and Padang Terap districts, queues of Malaysian-registered vehicles moved slowly due to a surge in travellers. Despite the congestion, travellers described the immigration process at the checkpoints as smooth.
Nur Syamimi Zubair Ahmad, 28, who manages her family's travel agency in Changlun, about 10 minutes from the border, said there was a sharp uptick in Malaysians heading to Thailand since Thursday evening.
She said many customers purchasing vehicle insurance plans at her agency cited Christmas and year-end holidays as their main reasons for crossing the border.
"Typically, we record about 12 customers signing up for vehicle insurance daily, as it's a requirement for those travelling by car.
"However, since November, we've seen pre-orders increase significantly. Now, we're handling about 35 to 40 customers daily" she told the New Sunday Times.
She added that while many Malaysians were aware of the recent floods in southern Thailand, the receding floodwaters had not deterred travellers.
"The floods were severe about two weeks ago, cutting off the main route from Dannok to Hatyai. Many customers had to cancel their plans.
"However with conditions improving, tourists are eager to go. Tourism players in Thailand will welcome the arrivals to help revitalise their economy after the disruptions," she said.
For P. Krishna, 45, a lecturer from Shah Alam, Selangor, the traffic congestion at the Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS Complex was manageable.
"I'm here for a three-day trip to Hatyai. I left Shah Alam at 9.30pm and reached the ICQS here at 7am. The immigration process was smooth. I waited for about an hour since I came with a tour group," he said.
Asri Abdullah, 49, a businessman from Bukit Tengah, Penang, expressed relief that the congestion was not as severe as expected.
"Given the school holidays, I brought my children here. We waited for an hour to reach the Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS at 9am. I was initially worried about the traffic, but I was looking forward to the trip, so we decided to come," he said.
Over at the Kota Putra ICQS, Ahmad Ikhtidar Ikhsan, 26, who was travelling with his family from Kuala Nerang to Bangkok, said they had planned the trip a month ago.
"My family are planning to go all the way to Bangkok. It's affordable and the hospitality has always been excellent, which is why we keep returning.
"I've been warned about the recent floods, but I understand the situation has improved. Hopefully, all is well now," said the civil servant.
In the recent floods, hundreds of thousands of households in southern Thailand were affected, with the death toll reaching over 30.
Meanwhile, the Kedah Immigration Department reported congestion at the ICQS Complex over the past two days, particularly at outbound vehicle lanes and exit counters. Inbound counters experienced minimal delays.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the department reminded travellers to adhere to traffic rules and cooperate with officers.
"Your patience is greatly appreciated. For everyone's comfort and safety, please comply with traffic regulations and follow the instructions given by our officers," it said.