Two Singaporean men have been detained by Malaysian authorities after they were allegedly caught trying to exit the country illegally, following unauthorised entry without proper immigration clearance. The incidents, which occurred at a major Johor land checkpoint, have triggered renewed warnings for motorcyclists not to bypass immigration procedures.
According to Malaysian media reports, the men – both in their 20s and 30s – were arrested in separate incidents but are now jointly under investigation. Both reportedly attempted to leave Malaysia via land checkpoints despite lacking immigration records of their entry into the country.
Entered Through Unmanned Lane, Claimed It Was a Wrong Route
In the first case, one of the Singaporean men is believed to have entered Johor Bahru through an unmanned motorcycle lane at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex – the same checkpoint located at the end of the Woodlands Causeway.
When attempting to leave Malaysia, the man allegedly claimed he had taken a wrong route. However, his failure to obtain an entry stamp raised red flags, leading to his arrest.
In the second case, another Singaporean was riding pillion with an Indian national. Immigration authorities found no records of either man entering the country. Both were detained on the spot.
Illegal Entry Could Lead to Jail, Fines & Caning
Malaysia’s Immigration Department confirmed the men had breached Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act by entering the country without valid documents. If convicted, offenders could face up to five years in jail, a fine of up to RM10,000 (approximately S$3,015), and potentially up to six strokes of the cane.
Investigations are currently ongoing, with all three men – the two Singaporeans and the Indian national – still in custody.
Motorcyclists Cautioned Not to Bypass Immigration Checks
A Malaysian security official highlighted the growing concern over motorcyclists using unauthorised or unmanned lanes to skip passport checks, especially at the heavily used land checkpoints between Singapore and Johor.
“It is a criminal offence to enter or exit Malaysia without proper clearance,” the official stressed, urging all foreign visitors to abide strictly by immigration protocols. Authorities have stepped up enforcement efforts on both sides of the border in response to such violations.
With thousands of commuters riding across the Causeway daily, this incident underscores the legal and financial risks of attempting shortcuts – even if unintentional.