Unexpected twist at border re-opening

Lyna Mohamad & Daniel Lim

Gentle visitors was noticed on the Kuala Lurah, Labu and Sungai Tujoh management posts yesterday, opposite to predictions that the August 1 re-opening of land and sea borders would inevitably carry with it painfully lengthy queues.

From 6am to midday, solely a handful of automobiles have been reported to have handed by the Kuala Lurah Management Submit, most of them Malaysian-registered automobiles or industrial automobiles.

“The visitors was easy,” stated Well being Inspector Dayangku Hani Mastika binti Pengiran Haji Sulaiman, who led a crew from the Port Well being Unit, Environmental Well being Division of the Ministry of Well being (MoH), in performing exit and entry well being screenings on the submit.

“To this point there was no queue, with a roughly 10-minute interval between the arrivals of automobiles. The well being screening course of has additionally been easy crusing.”

Dayangku Hani Mastika, nevertheless, believed that the situation will play out in another way throughout weekends or on the finish of the month, as soon as college holidays start.

Anticipating a busier weekend, she reminded border hoppers to have readily available all required paperwork to facilitate well being officers in discharging their duties. Whereas cell phone screenshots of those paperwork are accepted, she really helpful carrying a tough copy to hasten the method.

For locals or foreigners getting into Brunei, they might want to fill within the Arrival Declaration Type and present their vaccination data. Insurance coverage is required for foreigners intending to remain lower than 90 days, until they’re transiting.

In the meantime, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Durratul Aini binti Haji Abdul Khan reminded the general public to use for the Customs Exit and Entry System (EES) on-line to keep away from congestion.

“We do have an EES kiosk right here, nevertheless we strongly advise travellers to make on-line cost,” she added.

Senior Immigration Officer Haji Md Aimin bin Haji Md Yassin stated, “There have been minimal border crossing actions right this moment. Most of them have been Malaysians returning to Limbang or transiting Limbang to Temburong and Lawas, in addition to industrial automobiles passing by to cross over to Malaysia.

“Until Bruneians have households to go to in Limbang, they’re likelier to utilize the Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SHOAS) Bridge to get to Sabah,” he stated.

Some border hoppers opted to make use of the pedestrian channel, amongst them Malaysian pensioners and a mom carrying her child.

The scene bore little distinction on the Labu Management Submit, with a low variety of travellers reported.

The Sungai Tujoh Management Submit noticed barely busier instances, though travellers’ suggestions leaned in the direction of with the ability to cross the border with ease.

Malaysian Zulfahmi bin Azali, who resides in Kampong Panaga, expressed gratitude and jubilation for the re-opening of land and sea borders, including that he was headed to Miri for leisure.

“It is vitally simple to cross the border now and that’s a very good signal. Hopefully, this may be maintained,” he added.

In the meantime, Bahri advised the Bulletin it took two hours to get from Serusop all the way in which previous the Sungai Tujoh Management Submit.

“That is my first journey to Miri for the reason that begin of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m excited and I plan to buy,” Bahri stated, earlier than including that the border management programs in place are sufficient and straightforward to know.

The land and sea management posts operates each day from 6am to 6pm.