If you’re planning to head to Johor Bahru in the upcoming weekend, get ready and stand by for heavy traffic and crowded roads.
The Star reported that there will be heavy traffic on the major roads and highways in Malaysia and especially Johor from 23 March to 26 March.
This is because this weekend is the start of Ramadan, as well as the birthday of the Johor Sultan which is today (23 March)
The state police chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat, said that they will be deploying personnel and police officers from the various departments to help facilitate smooth travel for the cars and ease the congestion for motorists.
He said, “We expect people, especially Muslims, to travel back to their home towns to mark the first day of Ramadan with their loved ones.”
“Besides the traffic personnel, we will also be deploying personnel and officers from other departments and police stations to help ease congestion along major roads and highways during this period,”
Kamarul Zaman also added that police officers will be deployed at bazaars and on the roads as well during the fasting month.
The Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) also advised travellers from Singapore to look out for updates by then on the traffic conditions at the land checkpoints, with their latest post earlier today at 9.15 am stating that the heavy arrival traffic at Woodlands Checkpoint has subsided.
Johor observes a Friday to Saturday weekend, and their government has declared the upcoming Sunday )26 March) as a replacement holiday date.
Azmi Rohani, the state secretary of Johor, said that 23 March will be a public holiday, with the first day of Ramadan having always been a public holiday in Johor.
Azmi said, “If the beginning of Ramadan, which is also a public holiday for Johor, falls on the same date [as the Johor Sultan’s birthday], the state government has agreed to declare March 26 as a replacement holiday in accordance with Section Three of the Holidays Act.”