"It is normal practice for ICA to give expedited clearance to Ministers, on both sides of the Causeway as well as members of the Malaysian royalty", a spokesperson for the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) told Mothership.sg.

This was in response to our queries following Workers' Party MP Png Eng Huat's Facebook post, where he expressed frustration at the privileges accorded to Minister Tan Chuan-Jin and his "entourage of grassroots leaders and members" at Tuas immigration checkpoint last Sunday (July 17) after his one-day Desaru tour.

In the FB post, Png added that no one else could use that counter at the checkpoint.

However, ICA also said that when the ministers travel with others in a group, its officers will use their judgment on the clearance process.

ICA confirms the occurrence of the incident

An ICA spokesperson has confirmed that both Tan and Png were at the checkpoints last Sunday, noting the following:

"Minister Tan, his security officers and the other passengers in his bus were given clearance, without having to queue, at the Tuas Checkpoint on 17 July at around 9.20pm. The passengers in the other 19 buses (who were with Minister Tan) were cleared through the normal channels. They joined the queue."

ICA added that Png was "there for about 30 minutes, and was cleared through immigration".

In other words, Png was mistaken in assuming that Tan's whole entourage of 20 buses were given privileges, as only one bus got the fast pass.

Minister and the positive externalities that come along with him

In fact, Png was fine with the special attention accorded to Tan, pointing out in his post that "most people in the queue probably did not mind that as being a Minister does come with privileges".

His main point of contention was that some grassroots leaders, members or residents had their clearance expedited and also enjoyed the benefits of being part of Tan's entourage as they were on the same bus.

Guess it pays to be a minister's acquaintance.

Top photo via

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