In forceUpdated to 30 Sep 2026

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Cross-Border Railways (Border Control Co-location) Act 2026 · Updated to 30 Sep 2026 · Part 3 · Border Clearance and Railway Security Checks by Malaysia in Singapore

15. Limits on detention of goods and people

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(1)

A Malaysian preclearance officer may —

(a)

remove or take possession of any thing found during any screening or a search procedure, or when otherwise conducting border clearance or a railway security check, including any thing —

(i)

that is a dangerous thing;

(ii)

that is a Malaysian controlled item; or

(iii)

where it is unclear to the Malaysian preclearance officer whether it is a dangerous thing or a Malaysian controlled item, and there are discrepancies, either —

(A)

in the documents accompanying the thing itself; or

(B)

between the documents accompanying the thing and the thing itself,that suggest that it may be unwise for the officer to rely on the documents to clear the import of that thing into Malaysia; and

(b)

detain any individual who was wearing or carrying the thing removed or taken possession of under paragraph (a), or apparently having possession or immediate control of that thing.

(2)

Subject to subsection (3), the Malaysian preclearance officer must transfer custody of any thing he or she removed and took possession of, and any individual he or she detained, under subsection (1) to an appropriate Singapore border protection service officer.

(3)

A Malaysian preclearance officer must not keep any thing or detain any individual for longer than is necessary to make arrangements to transfer custody of the thing or individual to an appropriate Singapore border protection service officer, including escorting to deliver into custody.

Terms defined in s 3

border clearance
Defined · s 3
“border clearance” includes to exercise CIQ powers concerning the admission into Malaysia from Singapore or vice versa of people and goods travelling by cross‑border train on a cross‑border railway bound for peninsular Malaysia from Singapore or bound for Singapore from peninsular Malaysia, as the case may be;
Open s 3
dangerous thing
Defined · s 3
“dangerous thing” means an object or a thing that is —(a)a gun, an explosive, a weapon or a noxious substance within the meaning of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021;(b)any other pointed or bladed item capable of being used to cause bodily injury to the individual in possession of the item or to others;(c)a biological agent or toxin;(d)a corrosive substance; or(e)any other toxic, radioactive or flammable thing, or any other thing (whether or not of a similar kind), that is or could be used in a dangerous or threatening way;
Open s 3
detain
Defined · s 3
“detain” has the meaning given by section 5(5);
Open s 3
Malaysian controlled item
Defined · s 3
“Malaysian controlled item” has the meaning given by section 19(5);
Open s 3
Malaysian preclearance officer
Defined · s 3
“Malaysian preclearance officer” means a Malaysian border protection service officer who —(a)is recognised under section 9 as a Malaysian preclearance officer in respect of a cross‑border railway specified in the recognition; or(b)is deemed by section 10 recognised as a Malaysian preclearance officer in respect of a cross‑border railway,but only while on duty or carrying out work in that capacity;
Open s 3
Singapore border protection service officer
Defined · s 3
“Singapore border protection service officer” means an individual who is an employee of the Singapore Government or a Singapore public sector agency and performing duties in any of the Singapore border protection services, and includes a health officer appointed under section 4(1) of the Infectious Diseases Act 1976;
Open s 3
thing
Defined · s 3
“thing” includes a substance and a creature;
Open s 3