Travellers waited up to three hours to clear immigration during the Good Friday long weekend in April SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Those heading for Malaysia through the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during the upcoming Wesak Day long weekend from May 8 to 13 should expect heavy traffic and longer clearance time the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said travellers can consider taking the cross-border bus services during this period to avoid congestion Bus operating hours and timings can be found on the Land Transport Authority’s MyTransport.SG app or the bus operator’s website Motorists are advised to check the traffic situation at the two land checkpoints before embarking on their journeys Motorists and those travelling by bus are also encouraged to use QR codes in lieu of passports to clear immigration more quickly Singaporeans who travelled to Malaysia by car on Polling Day on May 3 faced traffic jams lasting as long as five hours at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints During the recent Good Friday long weekend from April 17 to 21 more than 2.4 million people crossed the two checkpoints The first day of the long weekend saw a peak of over 555,000 travellers Those who crossed the checkpoints by car waited up to three hours to clear immigration during the peak periods We would love to keep you posted on the latest promotion SINGAPORE: Travellers heading to Malaysia via the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints were advised to expect significant delays on Saturday (May 3) The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said there was "extremely heavy departure traffic" at the land checkpoints The authority added that tailbacks from Malaysia had formed with traffic buildup reaching about 5km at the Second Link and extending towards the Tuas Checkpoint Travellers were told to anticipate waiting times that could reach five hours or longer "Travellers are advised to check traffic conditions before embarking on their journey," said ICA the authority added that the delay had reduced to three hours and that the tailbacks at the Second Link had reached about 3km at Malaysia's end of the bridge a real-time website that monitors traffic at both land checkpoints estimated that the waiting time at the Causeway to enter Malaysia was nearly an hour and 30 minutes On Saturday, millions of Singaporeans began voting in the country’s 14th General Election Polling stations opened at 8am and will close at 8pm Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) posted on their Facebook page that travellers to Johor Bahru (JB) can expect travel delays of up to five hours or more They updated their post at 2pm that the delay was now up to three hours The ICA also advised travellers to check traffic conditions before embarking on their journey noting "extremely heavy departure traffic" at both Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints ICA also noted tailbacks from Malaysia at both checkpoints — the one at the Second Link is now about 3km and has reached Malaysia's end of the bridge Netizens reacted to ICA's Facebook post poking fun at the situation with General Election-related jokes "Must be Marine Parade voters (residents) Another joked that the traffic is caused by the first batch of voters who cast their ballots earlier in the morning This weekend is also a long one for students and staff at Ministry of Education (MOE) schools as the latter declared May 5 a school holiday since Polling Day falls on a Saturday Motorists heading towards Johor Bahru at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Jan 20 SINGAPORE: Travellers can expect very heavy traffic at Singapore-Malaysia land checkpoints during the upcoming Vesak Day long weekend and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said that Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints are set to see heavy traffic from May 8 to 13 Travellers should expect longer waiting times to clear immigration ICA said in a travel advisory on Monday (May 5) “Those who still need to travel during this peak period can consider taking the cross-border bus services to avoid congestion,” it added More than 2.4 million travellers crossed the land checkpoints during the Good Friday long weekend last month with a peak of more than 555,000 people crossing in a single day on Apr 17 Those who departed by car had to wait for up to three hours for immigration clearance due to traffic tailback from Malaysia “We seek travellers’ understanding to cooperate with ICA officers observe traffic rules and maintain lane discipline,” it added Stern action will be taken against travellers who do not comply with officers’ instructions and commit offences Travellers should ensure their passports have a remaining validity of at least six months Singapore permanent residents who have renewed their passports should ensure their re-entry permits have been transferred to their new passports Long-term pass holders should also notify ICA or the Ministry of Manpower of any change in their passport particulars before re-entering Singapore Those travelling by car and motorcycles are encouraged to use QR codes instead of passports for faster immigration clearance People commuting by bus can also use QR codes generated from the MyICA mobile app at automated lanes and special assistance lanes (SALs) of the checkpoints' bus halls Drivers of foreign vehicles should also ensure their Vehicle Entry Permits (VEP) are valid "Errant motorists caught queue cutting will be turned away and made to re-queue," ICA said The club hosted the 5th Annual South Texas Spring Showdown May 3-4 at Gosling and Bear Branch sports complexes in The W.. diabetes and irregular menstrual periods are in.. modern look and can even enhance your viewing experience As security technology has evolved over the past few decades commercial door key fobs have continued to be integral par.. 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Welcome to the future of living—where your home isn't just smart The total amount of drugs seized is worth more than S$845,500 Drugs seized from the car carrying the 41-year-old Singaporean man attempting to smuggle the drugs into Singapore on 16 Apr 2025 SINGAPORE: A 41-year-old Singaporean man was arrested for trying to smuggle drugs that included about 4.7kg of heroin at Woodlands Checkpoint on Wednesday evening (Apr 16) Officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) had directed a Malaysian-registered car for enhanced checks when they noticed the passenger behaving suspiciously "ICA officers conducted a search and found a slab of 10 tablets believed to be controlled drugs on him," said ICA and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in a joint media release on Saturday 1.6kg of Ice and 1,000 Erimin-5 tablets were seized from a bag on the car's floorboard along with cash that included S$689.60 (US$525.85) officers searched the man's residence in the Woodlands Drive area and seized about 307g of ketamine 99g of ecstasy and vape devices suspected to contain controlled drugs the drugs seized have an estimated worth of over S$845,500 and could potentially feed about 3,730 abusers for a week Anyone found guilty of importing into or exporting from Singapore over 15g of diamorphine or over 500g of cannabis may face the death penalty The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) held a rally for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC at Woodlands Stadium on Monday (Apr 28) The People’s Action Party (PAP) held a rally for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC at Woodlands Stadium on Thursday (Apr 24) Share sensitive information only on official secure websites.Government officials will never ask you to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call.Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 if you are unsure if something is a scam False claims that Woodlands MRT closed due to COVID-19 Note: This article has been updated on 15 July 2021 to adopt the World Health Organization’s naming of the disease “COVID-19” on 11 February 2020. Mediacorp GOLD 905’s Denise Tan completes a scenic stroll from Woodlands Jetty to Marsiling Crescent with a hearty meal at Pondok Selera by Nurul Hidayah Mediacorp GOLD 905's Denise Tan tucks into a plate of nasi padang at Pondok Selera by Nurul Hidayah (right) after a scenic stroll from Woodlands Jetty to Marsiling Crescent we kick off our exercise-then-eat routine at the northernmost point of mainland Singapore – the iconic Woodlands Jetty it’s a scenic starting point within the Northern Explorer Loop that links 11 green spaces including Admiralty Park and Woodlands Waterfront Park it wasn’t about completing the entire 25-kilometre loop – just a brisk 30-minute quest for nasi padang at Marsiling Crescent So with the imminent feast on my mind and the Johor Strait before my eyes I leisurely explored the Woodlands Waterfront Promenade the peaceful stretch serves up sweeping sea views of the Johor skyline It also crosses Sungei Cina which feeds into the mangrove swamps of nearby Admiralty Park It encompasses a 20-hectare nature area teeming with flora and fauna which you can access via a network of boardwalks It’s a worthwhile – albeit muddy and overgrown – trek The sea breeze had seriously built up my appetite so I went for the most direct route from the promenade straight to Pondok Selera by Nurul Hidayah – a popular 24-hour nasi padang stall where flavour never sleeps recently joined the family business that his father started 13 years ago the Nurul Hidayah brand has grown to include two stalls and a central kitchen for catering events leaving his career as an inflight attendant wasn’t just a personal decision but a commitment to continue his father’s legacy “He learned the recipes from my grandparents and slowly built up his experience So he actually knows what people enjoy the most Comfort is a word we kept returning to as I tucked into my heaping plate of rice sotong hitam (squid cooked in its own ink) and rendang ayam (chicken rendang) he highlighted their rendang as a dish they “do a bit different” He was right – it looked nothing like a traditional rendang A whole chicken leg was drenched and floating on a pool of luscious gravy which seeped into the rice and lapped over the edges of my plate it's much more enjoyable to eat with the rice,” Hardy explained It was impossible not to enjoy the tender portion of sauce-saturated chicken (S$4) the citrus notes of serai (lemongrass) and the earthy spice of lengkuas (galangal) Santan (coconut milk) brought everything together in creamy cohesion toasted and pounded) that intensified the santan flavour and gave the rendang its heart and soul the rendang was a complex harmony of flavours to be savoured over and over with rice bringing the taste of the sea in waves of umami Named for the squid ink that gives it briny depth Lengkuas and serai added their familiar fragrance while santan lent a touch of buttery silkiness that complemented the squid’s springy snap The interplay of textures kept each bite of sambal goreng (S$1) interesting The tangy tempeh (fermented soya bean cake) was meltingly lush while firm bites of tauhu (tofu) offered up delightfully charred edges the dish was mild yet aromatic and satisfying the nasi padang had indeed delivered on comfort – creamy It’s the sambal that brings everything together,” he said proudly I’ll check out their original stall at 888 Plaza at Woodlands Drive for their best-selling epok-epok Pro-tip: Both 24-hour stalls are surrounded by parks and PCNs so do a late walk and swing by at midnight when the food is hot out of the kitchen “That is when the crowd starts to come because the food is the freshest,” Hardy advised Their chefs also replenish the dishes at midday but it’s good to know that whenever the craving strikes nasi padang is available round the clock at Nurul Hidayah stay for the sambal and enjoy the family’s delicious tradition of comfort food made with heart Pondok Selera by Nurul Hidayah is located at Kimly Coffeeshop Catch Makan Kakis with Denise Tan every Thursday from 11am on MediaCorp GOLD 905 JTC Customer Service Portal (CSP) will be undergoing scheduled maintenance from 6 May 2025 at 6.00 pm till 9.00 pm and will not be accessible during this period A gateway to Malaysia and at the heart of Woodlands Regional Centre Woodlands North Coast is going to be an economic hub brimming with life and activities Move here and enjoy the diverse offerings that make this place a top business location Thanks to flexible zoning (the first of its kind) Woodlands North Coast offers you the freedom to adjust the amount of space required for your manufacturing and ancillary activities You can keep your operations all under one roof Explore 1 North Coast for these flexible spaces This is an industrial estate that feels as dynamic as it looks It has all the vibes of a modern campus which puts you in the perfect mood for innovating or just enjoying life For an environment that’s positively different Woodlands North Coast offers you the unique opportunity to use up to 70% of your space for non-manufacturing, service-oriented activities Republic Polytechnic introduces a massive pool of quality talent literally at your doorstep Honed by the Polytechnic’s Problem-based Learning pedagogy these students are known for their creativity and for their ability to solve problems or devise innovative solutions Get in touch with Republic Polytechnic and explore how you can tap on their immense potential for your business Each time your employees need to pick up new skills or upgrade themselves through industry-relevant training Republic Polytechnic’s Academy for Continuing Education (RP ACE) offers a broad range of over 200 training programmes or empower your employees with skills in emerging areas such as data analytics When it comes to industry-academia collaborations Partner Republic Polytechnic and leverage their multi-disciplinary expertise to develop innovative solutions improve productivity and drive capability development you can even create prototypes to test-bed right in the estate This 750 m car-lite boulevard runs from one end of Woodlands North Coast to the scenic northern coastline Or indulge in some retail therapy at the shops lining the pathway Wonder why there aren’t many vehicles around That’s because commercial vehicles use a dedicated network that operates underground Efficient for business and pleasant for pedestrians It’s just another design feature that makes everyone feel great at Woodlands North Coast With several housing estates within walking distance plus another 10,000 new homes to be added soon you and your employees will have no lack of choices when it comes to living near your workplace Woodland’s plentiful housing also means you’ll have an impressive mix of residents seeking jobs at Woodlands North Coast The talent you’ve been looking for will soon come knocking on your company’s door or has a sizeable workforce from across the strait For one, the Causeway is just around the corner. And by 2026, the much anticipated RTS linking to Johor Bahru will be in operation making intercountry commuting even faster and easier The multi-modal transport hub connects the community to the RTS and the Woodlands North MRT station the nearby Woodlands MRT station offers another convenient option for you and your workers Woodlands North MRT Station (Thomson-East Coast Line) Woodlands MRT Station (Thomson-East Coast Line & North South Line) The three cross-island expressways (BKE/KJE CTE/SLE and TPE/SLE) passing by the estate will get you to your destination with the least hassle 1800 568 7000 (Local) Hotline is available from Mondays to Fridays singapore2 GRCs and 1 SMC: This Woodlands junction separates 3 electoral divisionsFacing north: HDB blocks on the left belong to Woodlands division of Sembawang GRC, blocks on the right are under the new Sembawang West SMC.PHOTO: AsiaOne/Eriko LimPUBLISHED ONApril 04, 2025 8:50 AMByLim KeweiAt the intersection of Woodlands Avenue 4 and Avenue 7 eagle-eyed road users may notice different MPs featured on the four banners flanking the junction perimeter they will see a "Woodlands" banner on their left and a "Sembawang West" banner on their right Turn 180 degrees to face south — a "Woodlands" banner would also be on the left but at the right side of the street stands a "Woodgrove" banner this junction divides the constituencies of Sembawang GRC and Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC as well as the new Sembawang West SMC which has been carved out of Sembawang GRC ahead of GE2025 Sembawang GRC MPs Mariam Jaafar and Poh Li San represent the Woodlands and Sembawang West divisions respectively while Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP Hany Soh represents the Woodgrove division said the boundaries are "very confusing" Should I go elsewhere?" said the 67-year-old who lives in a flat near the intersection But he also acknowledged that "there is a reason" behind how electoral boundaries are determined remarking: "I thought this whole area is Admiralty." Of the 10 residents living in Sembawang West whom AsiaOne spoke to seven were aware that the division had become an SMC said he is also aware of the three wards bordering the junction who has been living in Sembawang GRC for 30 years said he was "shocked" that Sembawang West had been carved out but believes that the way the estate is managed will not be affected by the change The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee had said in its March 11 report that the creation of Sembawang West SMC is due to significant growth in the number of electors in Sembawang GRC Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan told AsiaOne there could be multiple ways of demarcating the new SMC and "there is no perfect boundary delimitation" "It would appear that the MRT line was the feature relied upon to demarcate the end point of the new (Sembawang West) SMC," he said pointing out that such division of electoral boundaries may be unusual but not uncommon Checks by AsiaOne revealed that most constituencies are demarcated along expressways or MRT tracks Prof Tan said that some confusion among residents at the 'borders' as to which GRC or SMC they belong to and which MPS they should attend is likely but that the confusion will be cleared before long On the usage of community spaces across different wards Prof Tan believes that Sembawang West SMC will likely be part of the same town council as Sembawang GRC "Where usage of community spaces such as community clubs/centres I am sure the town council(s) and PA will exercise flexibility in residents' usage of those areas," he said Health Minister and Sembawang GRC MP Ong Ye Kung said in March that the new SMC's upgrading and development plans will continue to be part of the GRC and town development plan I intend to assign Galaxy Community Club to the SMC even though the CC falls just outside of the SMC boundaries," he said in a Facebook post Additional reporting by Eriko Lim and Liv Hana Roberts Some shopkeepers in Woodlands and Marsiling fear that the greater ease of crossing the Causeway to Malaysia using QR codes and the upcoming rail link will make Johor Bahru even more attractive to Singapore shoppers When Mr Jeffrey Neo started his furniture business more than 10 years ago it was so successful that he had four outlets in public housing estates including one each in Marsiling and Woodlands Things could not be any more different today He is now left with his last outlet at Block 18 Marsiling Lane after he shuttered his third outlet in Woodlands in June last year “Since the Causeway reopened after COVID-19 (in April 2022) business has dropped by at least 50 per cent,” the 66-year-old who owns Eleon Furniture & Renovation said This slowdown has been especially pronounced as border congestion eased over the past two or three years Even though Mr Neo acknowledged that many factors may hurt brick-and-mortar businesses such as his, he placed the most blame for the business downturn on the competition just over the Causeway in Johor Bahru (JB) Singapore’s stronger currency and overall higher business costs mean that he could never beat furniture shops up north in terms of price He told CNA TODAY that he hardly sees young or new faces at his shop long-time customers still patronising his business Asked what he intends to do to arrest the decline of his business Mr Neo sounded almost defeatist: “I’ll just continue running the shop until the day I’m forced to close.” The challenges facing such brick-and-mortar business operators could well increase, with the greater ease in crossing the border already making JB an ever more appealing shopping destination for Singaporeans Since March, travellers arriving in and departing Singapore at the land checkpoints by car have been able to clear immigration more speedily with QR codes instead of presenting their physical passports this will be extended to those travelling by bus And by the end of 2026, the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is expected to be completed then-prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said in October last year This is only making Singapore businesses near the border more fearful that their clientele will find it easier to shop up north Most of the 18 businesses in the Woodlands and Marsiling area that CNA TODAY visited this week shared similar experiences as Mr Neo sales have dropped between 30 and 50 per cent Singapore's land checkpoints with Malaysia have seen greater numbers than in the pre-pandemic years. Five million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during the September school holidays. On Sep 6, a single-day record of 534,000 travellers crossing the border was set Close to 28 million travellers have used the QR code option for immigration clearance at the land checkpoints as of Dec 1 the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said Some Woodlands residents told CNA TODAY that they are buying goods from JB either more frequently or in larger quantities in recent years mainly due to the rising cost of living that adds pressure on them to pinch pennies Though crossing the border has been made more convenient it cannot fully beat the convenience of the neighbourhood shops which they still turn to for specific items such as perishables goods or things that they need to buy urgently merchants are calling for more help to be handed out to ensure that they do not end up shuttering their businesses for good Many retail and service owners in the Marsiling area reported a drop in sales since COVID-19 of up to 50 per cent Business has been even grimmer this year than the last The higher cost of living has pushed consumers to look for cheaper alternatives including online shopping platforms or by hopping across the border For some businesses that used to be situated at the Old Woodlands Town Centre they never recovered from their relocation back in 2017 a 25-minute bus ride from Woodlands Checkpoint owner of See Toi Watches at Marsiling Mall our customers were a good mix of Singaporeans and Malaysians since we were right outside the checkpoint my customers are regulars from Old Woodlands and the residents around here.”  is chairman of Woodlands Town Centre Merchants’ Association which includes operators in Marsiling Mall He said that in comparison to the Old Woodlands Town Centre location Marsiling Mall’s location is “not here nor there” said that four to five retail stores in Marsiling Mall have closed down after the COVID-19 pandemic Business has also fallen at blocks 18 to 19 Marsiling Lane a 10-minute drive from Woodlands Checkpoint the hawker centre there has long been a hot spot for Malaysians looking to have a meal before their work day starts But even this is not enough to save the overall level of business there from dwindling the 58-year-old observes that customers who still patronise his shop are buying items in bigger quantities “My customers told me eating out is getting more expensive so they are starting to cook at home more,” Mr Lim said overall sales have still dropped 20 to 30 per cent Mr Lim is also the chairman of the 18-21 Marsiling Merchants' & Hawkers' Association wet market and some 30 merchants operating at blocks 18 to 19 Marsiling Lane it’s not doom and gloom for all businesses in Woodlands co-founder and director of KC Group – parent company of various hairdressing and beauty brands such as Kcuts and Apgujeong Hair Studio – said that the lower-value quick-service barber businesses are less affected This is because a consumer might not find it worthwhile braving a traffic jam for the few dollars that can be saved by going to JB for the brands that offer “bigger ticket value with not-so-regular purchase frequency” such as hair and beauty treatments And although many Woodlands and Marsiling shops said that they are languishing most of the employees at eight shops that CNA TODAY visited in Causeway Point mall said that they had not noticed a significant decline in sales in recent years They all declined to be quoted because they do not have permission to speak to the media Professor Lawrence Loh from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School said that the resilience of Causeway Point may be due to the fact that it is located next to a bus interchange and MRT station having a “larger catchment area than the neighbourhood stores” Unlike customers who would typically visit their nearest neighbourhood shop to specifically buy items visitors patronise big malls to do more than just shopping who is from the school’s department of strategy and policy the outing is a total experience that may include eating and entertainment conveniently available without having to travel across the country.”  from Causeway Point’s strategic location and value proposition A promoter at Metro said that the department store has been visibly quieter and emptier even during its recent Black Friday sales period who has been working at the store for a few years added: “My colleagues and I are sure next year will be worse and I’m worried I will lose my job if this situation persists.” Some merchants reported an uptick in sales recently boosted by the expiring Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers and the December cash payout under the government's Assurance Package Others noted a brief increase in sales when Malaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) policy was rolled out in October They believe that this was because some residents who had not received the permit have decided not to enter Malaysia Such was the case for 42-year-old Mohd Faizul Abdul Rahim who has crossed the border only once after its post-COVID reopening He said that it was in part due to him getting a better-paying job which eased the pressure of having to go north to save money while shopping he had his VEP application rejected twice for various reasons and that has put him off from heading to JB “I just can’t be bothered to drive up anymore.”  A Woodlands resident who wanted to be identified only as Mr S estimated that he saves S$200 a month by going to JB once a week to buy groceries and other household items the trips he makes to JB include not just shopping but also having a meal and going for services such as massages These residents said that the cost of food in JB is the same as Singapore but services such as those offered by massage parlours and hair salons are significantly cheaper there plans to go to JB to buy new clothes for the Chinese New Year The homemaker frequents malls such as City Square Mall and Mid Valley Southkey Her purchases include clothes for her seven-month-old granddaughter Baby apparel in Singapore retail stores such as Kiddy Palace can cost twice as much as stores in JB of the same quality Woodlands and Marsiling businesses are bracing for further impact when the RTS Link begins service The rail line will cut cross-border travelling time to five minutes and is set to be able to transport 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction Businesses are concerned that Woodlands residents who are deterred by traffic jams at the Causeway will be encouraged to travel to JB by rail more often her family typically plans trips to JB in advance sometimes staying there overnight to avoid the heavy traffic back to Singapore “I see myself going more often to JB via RTS Commenting on the competition faced by businesses in Woodlands Prof Loh of NUS Business School said that retailers in JB and the Woodlands area are vying for “somewhat similar” customer segments: These would be price-sensitive consumers looking for good bargains He acknowledged that the stronger Singapore currency and high rental costs in Singapore pose “an inherent challenge that is hard to surmount” “It will be hard to justify helping businesses in just a specific locality,” he added businesses still hope that more can be done to help them stay afloat A few merchants said that the CDC vouchers have helped them since they encourage spending but the vouchers are usable only at certain shops The voucher scheme was launched in June 2020 to help Singaporean lower-income households defray their cost of living and at the same time to support hawkers and heartland merchants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic Some asked for controls over what goods can be brought into Singapore from across the border in hopes that this will push Singapore shoppers to choose domestic buys There are already existing regulations that prohibit importation of certain goods altogether or that require specific permission be obtained before a traveller brings the goods into Singapore items bought from overseas and brought into Singapore are subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST) but travellers are given tax relief based on their duration of stay overseas If a Singaporean travels overseas for less than 48 hours they are given a relief for up to S$100 of the items’ value business figures are trying their level best to retain clients and stay competitive Mr Pei of KC Group said that for its higher-end salon brands they differentiate themselves by offering better quality services "We have the full Korean experience with Korean director stylists who can give consumers more trendy Korean-themed haircut and styling which they may not be able to fully achieve in Malaysia," he added the chairman of Woodlands Town Centre Merchants’ Association Marsiling merchants can take only “one step at a time” They are banking on their accessibility to continue attracting customers chairman of the 18-21 Marsiling Merchants' & Hawkers' Association believes that his dried goods business will remain competitive His goods are priced lower than in supermarkets and new Build-to-Order flats have popped up in Marsiling in recent years bringing in a constant stream of customers Ms Goh who foresees going to JB more often after the RTS Link opens said that she still turns to neighbourhood shops near her house to buy perishables heavier items or items that she needs urgently Retailers who are now seeing a rise in servicing requests hope that this proximity and occasional contact can reap benefits in the long run even if it does not rake in the dollars in the near term An optometry shop employee who asked to be identified only as Ms Lee noted that many customers go to her shop to service spectacles that they bought from across JB I hope to build a good relationship with them singaporeLong delays at Woodlands checkpoint: Over 2-hour wait as school holidays startThe jam on Woodlands Causeway towards Johor at 10.48am on March 16.PHOTO: Land Transport Authority of SingaporePUBLISHED ONMarch 16, 2025 3:35 AMByMelissa Teo Planning to bring the kids to Malaysia for the March school holidays Brace yourself for a long wait at the checkpoints In a Facebook post on Saturday (March 15) at 9.10am the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) warned of heavy departure traffic at Woodlands Checkpoint due to tailback from Malaysia The car queue was beyond Woodlands Avenue 3 and the estimated waiting time to Woodlands checkpoint was more than two hours in an update on Sunday (March 16) at 9.20am ICA shared that there was heavy departure traffic at Woodlands Checkpoint "Ttavellers are advised to check traffic conditions before embarking on their journey," said the agency wait times for traffic towards Johor were estimated to be 58 to 88 minutes on the Causeway and 40 to 61 minutes on the Second Link at 10.47am on Sunday (March 16) ICA had on March 7 warned motorists to expect heavy traffic at both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during the upcoming March school holidays and Hari Raya Puasa The school holidays are from March 14 till March 24 while the Hari Raya Puasa holiday is from March 28 to April 1 ICA said that more than three million travellers crossed Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during the recent Chinese New Year holidays from Jan 24 to Jan 30 Over 521,000 travellers crossed on Jan 24 alone "We seek travellers' understanding to cooperate with ICA officers observe traffic rules and maintain lane discipline ICA will not hesitate to take stern action against travellers who do not comply with officers' instructions and commit offences at the checkpoints."  No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne