Open more immigration counters for S'poreans at Changi Airport

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http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/open-more-immigration-counters-sporeans-changi-airport-20140617

On June 7, I returned to Singapore with my family and there were long queues at all the immigration counters that were open. I could not help but notice that out of the 11 open counters, only one was dedicated to Singapore citizens.

This is at odds with the messages at the airport welcoming Singaporeans home - standing in line waiting to clear immigration is not very welcoming.

I understand that Singaporeans are encouraged to use the automated counters but families with children below seven years old cannot use them. In addition, senior citizens might prefer using the counters manned by immigration officers. This implies that the Singaporeans who do stand in line at the manned counters are the ones who would most appreciate speedy clearance.

I have no axe to grind with foreigners and tourists, but reserving only one out of 11 counters for Singaporeans is insufficient.

In all the countries' airports I have passed through, there are more counters for their own citizens than for foreigners.

Returning home only to be stuck in long lines in one's own country is a bad way to end any holiday or business trip.

I appreciate that there is no point in wasting manpower resources to have many counters reserved for Singaporeans when there is a long queue of foreigners to be cleared. But this was not the case the day I returned home.

Ng Keng Nam