SINGAPORE - More than 1.7 million people crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints over the long weekend of the presidential election – a record high since land borders between Singapore and Malaysia reopened in 2022.

The surge in travellers was recorded over five days starting from the eve of Polling Day on Thursday, Aug 31, until Monday, Sept 4, said a spokesman for the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

The Polling Day long weekend also happened to be the start of the September school holidays, which contributed to the record number of travellers heading up north.

The previous record at the border checkpoints was 1.6 million during the Vesak Day long weekend from June 1 to June 5, which also marked the start of the June school holidays.

On the eve of Polling Day, heavy traffic began to build up at the land crossings with more than 237,000 departures, said ICA. Numbers fell slightly on Polling Day to a total of about 227,000 departures.

At its peak, the time needed to clear the traffic delay at Tuas Checkpoint reportedly reached nine hours. 

Motorists who braved the crossings on Polling Day took to social media to share pictures of the record-breaking traffic snarls. Videos taken at Tuas Second Link and posted on Facebook group Both Checkpoint showed long lines of cars at a standstill, attracting bemused comments.

Facebook user Ea Ea Kin said: “Those who didn’t know would think we were all fleeing from a big earthquake in Singapore to JB.”

Another Facebook user, Mr Mic Lim, said he “finished watching Da Chang Jin” (Jewel In The Palace), the notoriously long 2003 South Korean drama series with 54 episodes.

Human traffic was similarly heavy, with videos circulating on TikTok showing travellers packed shoulder to shoulder at the immigration hall.

ICA said: “The record number of travellers, coupled with more travellers travelling by car into Malaysia in that period caused severe congestion and resulted in traffic tailbacks extending from the Malaysian checkpoints to Singapore’s land checkpoints.”

In anticipation of the heavy congestion, ICA advised Malaysia-bound motorists to factor in extra travelling time ahead of the Polling Day weekend. In a notice on Aug 28, it said nearly 250,000 people had passed through both checkpoints in the first week of the month-long June school holidays.

Over the weekend, ICA provided continual and frequent traffic updates via its Facebook page.

To manage traffic, ICA also increased the frequency of public buses and implemented a “loop system” for Causeway Link buses. The “loop system” allows bus drivers to drop off and pick up travellers at the checkpoints without needing to clear immigration themselves, said ICA.

It also installed 25 industrial fans and 38 mobile toilets at both checkpoints.

ICA said: “Traffic is expected to remain very heavy at both land checkpoints during the rest of the September school holidays and especially towards the end.”

The September school holidays will end on Sunday, Sept 10, and the Teachers’ Day holiday falls on Monday, Sept 11.

Travellers are advised to check traffic conditions before embarking on their journeys and factor in more time for immigration clearance.