*extracted from channelnewasia
CONFUSION and chaos reigned at the Causeway during the past two days.
All because of a communications breakdown between the JB immigration and the headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Shin Min Daily News reported.
They had been told to start collecting the white arrival/departure card from foreigners entering the country.
However, the Malaysian government had said earlier this year that the white cards were no longer necessary at the Woodlands Checkpoint and the Second Link at Tuas.
The ruling had been in effect since 19 Jan.
Instead, travellers need only to get their passports stamped by Malaysian immigration officers as proof of entry.
But on Friday and yesterday, the officers were asking for the white cards to be completed.
This not only confused travellers, but also caused a traffic jam at the Causeway.
THEY RAN OUT OF CARDS
And the situation became worse yesterday morning when Malaysian immigration officers ran out of cards to distribute.
To fill in their details, foreigners usually pick up the cards from the checkpoints or they keep extra cards with them from earlier visits.
A 50-year-old bus driver, who gave his name only as Mr Chen, told Shin Min: 'I threw all my extra white cards away after the (new ruling) in January.
'When the officer said we had to fill up the cards, the motorists were stuck at the Causeway for an hour.'
Mr Chen added that he had told his colleagues and his company to be prepared if they had to go across the Causeway.
He said: 'When we didn't have to fill up the cards, clearing the Malaysian immigration checks was very fast.
'I hope my colleagues would be able to plan their journey better by having white cards with them.'
He said many motorists became flustered as they had to dig around for white cards and pens.
'Some tourists were also confused as they were not sure how to fill up the cards.'
Mr Alwyn Lau, a marketing executive from travel agency Konsortium Express and Tours, told Shin Min that the company hurried to distribute white cards to its customers after being notified by its coach drivers.
'Our drivers told us that the confusion had caused coaches to be held up for an hour,' he said.
'We had enough cards for our drivers and customers. But because other motorists didn't have cards, our coaches ended up being stuck in the jam too.'
One officer told Shin Min that his department was awaiting further instructions.
For now, there is no need for travellers to produce the white cards.
CONFUSION and chaos reigned at the Causeway during the past two days.
All because of a communications breakdown between the JB immigration and the headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Shin Min Daily News reported.
They had been told to start collecting the white arrival/departure card from foreigners entering the country.
However, the Malaysian government had said earlier this year that the white cards were no longer necessary at the Woodlands Checkpoint and the Second Link at Tuas.
The ruling had been in effect since 19 Jan.
Instead, travellers need only to get their passports stamped by Malaysian immigration officers as proof of entry.
But on Friday and yesterday, the officers were asking for the white cards to be completed.
This not only confused travellers, but also caused a traffic jam at the Causeway.
THEY RAN OUT OF CARDS
And the situation became worse yesterday morning when Malaysian immigration officers ran out of cards to distribute.
To fill in their details, foreigners usually pick up the cards from the checkpoints or they keep extra cards with them from earlier visits.
A 50-year-old bus driver, who gave his name only as Mr Chen, told Shin Min: 'I threw all my extra white cards away after the (new ruling) in January.
'When the officer said we had to fill up the cards, the motorists were stuck at the Causeway for an hour.'
Mr Chen added that he had told his colleagues and his company to be prepared if they had to go across the Causeway.
He said: 'When we didn't have to fill up the cards, clearing the Malaysian immigration checks was very fast.
'I hope my colleagues would be able to plan their journey better by having white cards with them.'
He said many motorists became flustered as they had to dig around for white cards and pens.
'Some tourists were also confused as they were not sure how to fill up the cards.'
Mr Alwyn Lau, a marketing executive from travel agency Konsortium Express and Tours, told Shin Min that the company hurried to distribute white cards to its customers after being notified by its coach drivers.
'Our drivers told us that the confusion had caused coaches to be held up for an hour,' he said.
'We had enough cards for our drivers and customers. But because other motorists didn't have cards, our coaches ended up being stuck in the jam too.'
One officer told Shin Min that his department was awaiting further instructions.
For now, there is no need for travellers to produce the white cards.
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