Rantau Panjang ICQS Complex To Be Replaced By New Facility To Ease Congestion

By Muhammad Afiq Mohd Asri

PASIR MAS, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- The Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex will be replaced by a new facility to cope with rising cross-border traffic, following the construction of the second Malaysia-Thailand bridge.

Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) Rantau Panjang commander Siti Khadijah Hamzah said land acquisition for the project, which is under the Home Ministry, has already been completed.

She said the existing complex, in operation for many years, can no longer cope with the growing number of travellers and is constrained by limited space and poor traffic flow.

"The existing complex will be demolished once the new one is completed," she told Bernama recently at the Rantau Panjang ICQS Complex.

She said the new complex will be designed for smoother, more orderly movement, including separating the exit and entry lanes between Malaysia and Thailand to ease traveller flow.

She said the new facility is crucial, given that the Rantau Panjang ICQS is one of the main entry points with high cross-border traffic.

The improvements are also expected to help address the congestion that frequently occurs, especially on weekends, public holidays and festive seasons, she added.

She said daily cross-border movement stands at around 2,000 to 3,000 people, but can reach 5,000 a day during peak periods, particularly on weekends and public holidays.

"We usually open 100 per cent of our counters, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. No counter is left empty," she said, adding that there are 12 Immigration inspection counters, with six each for entry and exit.

The Rantau Panjang ICQS Complex sits on the Malaysia-Thailand border in Pasir Mas and is one of three official entry points into Kelantan, alongside ICQS Bukit Bunga in Tanah Merah and Pengkalan Kubor in Tumpat.

Functionally, the ICQS serves as a coordination centre for the inspection and control of movement in and out of the country.

Besides the Immigration Department, it houses various agencies, including the Customs Department, National Anti-Drug Agency, Road Transport Department, Quarantine and Inspection Services Department, the Volunteer Department and several other enforcement agencies.

Its location is also highly strategic, facing Sungai Golok, which forms the Malaysia-Thailand border. The area presents its own security challenges, including smuggling activities and illegal entries. 

Bernama previously reported that Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang is among the areas that are challenging to control due to fluctuating water levels and the existence of illegal crossing routes.

-- BERNAMA