What times and days of week are quietest entering Padang Beasar thai-side immigration from malaysia? Is there a rush hour? 

 

Also when does the malaysian xmas holiday start, I was caught there on near xmas last year and it was not a pretty sight even if did eventually fast track to non-malay falangs, some of the malays looked like they had a several hour queue ahead of them judging by the pace it was clearing. 

Friday’s are the busiest days if you are entering Thailand from Malaysia. The whole complex has been rebuilt and as you say sometimes had a queue for non-Thai / Malay but there is now a single arrivals desk in a building rather than the Little booths. 

 

I stopped using PB after many years, the last visit I was sent to a side office, without checking my passport or visa status, where I waited for the shift supervisor who then grilled me on my purpose in the country, and asked why I had a ME visa. I’m not sure if this is still procedure, this was about 18 months ago.