By BERNAMA

It WAS not possible to do away with immigration and custom checks for travellers leaving Singapore, reported The Straits Times by quoting the republic’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The report said the ministry was responding to a proposal by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak for a single checkpoint at the Johor Causeway to improve traffic flow.

The report was referring to a Malaysian newspaper which quoted Najib as saying that under the proposal, travellers going to Singapore would be checked at the republic’s side, and those heading into Johor checked on the Malaysian side.

Singapore’s MHA said the departure checks are a “vital part of Singapore’s border security strategy”.

“The Singapore government will continue to work with Malaysia to explore other practical ways to facilitate travel between Singapore and Malaysia,” MHA was quoted as saying.