Singapore Acquiring Malaysian Land for Checkpoint Upgrade

Singapore plans to acquire two land parcels owned by the Malaysian government. The move is part of a major project to redevelop and expand the Woodlands Checkpoint which will happen in phases over 10 to 15 years.

In a joint statement, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the two parcels are about 0.79 hectares in size - located near the centre of the redevelopment site.

Singapore said it will work closely with Malaysia during the acquisition process and aim to continue the strong partnership with Malaysia to improve connectivity and ties.

Singapore had written to Malaysia in May 2022 and Nov 2023 to propose buying the land. As of Feb 2024, Malaysian authorities were still reviewing the proposal.

Land acquisition in Singapore is governed by the Land Acquisition Act where landowners are paid the market value for their land. If they are not satisfied with the compensation, they can appeal to the Appeals Board.

In 2024, the number of daily travellers at Woodlands Checkpoint rose to 327,000, up from 269,000 in 2023. That number is expected to reach 400,000 by 2050.

First phase, construction of the new clearance facilities for cargo and vehicles, will start at the Old Woodlands Town Centre in the Q3 2025.

There will also be an extension of the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) to allow direct access to the checkpoint. This should help reduce traffic on nearby roads.

Future phases will include upgrading the existing checkpoint and adding new systems. These include in-car immigration clearance, vehicle holding areas and off-site security checks.

These changes are meant to reduce grid-lock on the BKE and surrounding roads. The final goal is to cut the average travel time during peak hours to just 15 minutes, while still maintaining strong security.

Source: SAYS