BSI complex works causes power cut, disrupt Malaysia-Singapore travel

JOHOR BARU: Maintenance work at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI CIQ) here caused a power disruption for eight hours, affecting Malaysia-Singapore travel.

The power disruption also affected JB Sentral, and caused major traffic congestion on roads around here leading up to BSI.

In a notice by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), it said that there would be disruptions at the Perdana power processing unit (PPU) substation, BSI, CIQ and JB Sentral due to maintenance work from 8pm on Tuesday (Dec 5) to 4am on Wednesday (Dec 6).

Following the power disruption at the land checkpoint, Johor MentrI Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has instructed TNB and the Public Works Department (JKR) to solve this problem immediately.

“What happened is very troublesome for the daily users and an embarrassment for the state,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Meanwhile, Johor Immigration Department director Baharuddin Tahir said that the power supply at the BSI has been restored and added that all agencies in the building are inspecting their systems to ensure there are no issues following the disruption.

He added that during the disruption, his officers and personnel at Immigration counters inside the BSI had to carry out clearances manually.

“Due to lack of power supply at the immigration counters, there is some congestion especially at motorcycle and bus lanes at BSI CIQ,” he told The Star.

When contacted, state works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said that the auto gates were fully operational as of 9.30am.

“The power disruption at BSI CIQ is because of the maintenance work done by TNB. There are seven generator sets inside the complex but there is an issue involving one of the generator sets, which caused the delay in the power supply,” he added.