Malaysia checks traffic snarls

Malaysia checks traffic snarls

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia is looking into reports of traffic snarls on the Singapore side of its causeway link with the island republic, foreign minister Syed Hamid Syed Albar said on Wednesday.

Malaysia's influential Utusan Malaysia newspaper on Tuesday said Singapore immigration officials had imposed "extraordinary" checks on traffic going into the republic from southern Johor state, resulting in massive traffic congestion on the causeway.

It said over 30,000 motorcyclists who cross into Singapore daily to work had been subjected to more strict inspections.

Forty illegal immigrants from five countries were found trying to sneak into Singapore in a Malaysian-registered truck, but the driver escaped, reports said on Wednesday.