Rantau Panjang ICQS complex to be replaced by new facility to ease congestion

PASIR MAS: 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.

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

She said the existing complex, which had been in operation for many years, could no longer cope with the growing number of travellers due to limited space and poor traffic flow.

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

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

She said the new facility was crucial as the Rantau Panjang ICQS was one of the main entry points handling high cross-border traffic.

The improvements were also expected to help address congestion that frequently occurred, especially on weekends, public holidays and during festive seasons, she added.

She said daily cross-border movement stood at between 2,000 and 3,000 people, but could 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 were 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 ICQS Pengkalan Kubor in Tumpat.

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

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