KUALA LUMPUR – Singapore will acquire two land parcels owned by Malaysia to support the redevelopment and expansion of the Woodlands Checkpoint (WCP), part of a long-term strategy to ease congestion and boost operational efficiency at the key land crossing.
In a joint statement, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) announced that the acquisition, covering approximately 0.79 hectares, was officially gazetted today.
The ICA said extensive feasibility and technical studies had been conducted to determine the required land size to cater to future traffic volumes and security needs. “SLA and ICA will work closely with the Malaysian government through the acquisition process,” the agencies said.
“We will continue our strong partnership with the Malaysian government to strengthen connectivity and people-to-people links,” the statement added.
The two parcels are undeveloped and covered in vegetation. Their purchase value was not disclosed.
The expansion of the WCP is set to take place in phases over the next 10 to 15 years, addressing persistent traffic bottlenecks. Last year, daily traveller volume at the checkpoint rose by 22 percent to 327,000 compared to 269,000 in 2023. A record 376,000 people crossed on December 20, 2024, during the year-end school break. By 2050, daily traffic is expected to reach 400,000.
The ICA said the upgraded facility aims to reduce peak-hour waiting times from the current average of 60 minutes to just 15 minutes. Improvements will include enhanced clearance systems for all vehicles — cars, motorcycles, buses and cargo lorries — and the integration of automated in-car immigration clearance.
Security checks will also be decentralised, conducted away from the main checkpoint infrastructure to better manage potential threats. Holding areas within the WCP will be created to alleviate congestion spilling onto the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) and nearby roads.
The land being acquired belongs to the Government of Malaysia, registered under the Federal Lands Commissioner. In February this year, ICA said it had been waiting for a response from Malaysian authorities regarding proposals to purchase the land, having written to Malaysia in May 2022 and November 2023.
Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Azfar Mohamad Mustafar had said in February 2024 that the matter was still under consideration.
The two nations have a history of resolving land-related matters. In 2010, a land swap agreement saw Malaysia give up railway land in Singapore — including plots in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji, Woodlands and Bukit Timah — in exchange for parcels in Marina South and Ophir-Rochor. – June 4, 2025.