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JOHOR BARU: Johor will present its case to Putrajaya to fully reopen Malaysia’s border with Singapore, which has been closed for the past seven months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, says Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad.
He said the state government will present its plan to the Economic Action Council (EAC) on October 19.
“I have asked the Federal Government to consider the state’s request to fully open our border with the island republic.
“The plan not only covers the importance of opening our borders, but also includes those who work in Singapore, as well as the impact on investments made in Johor,” he added.
Hasni said this after the closing ceremony of the Asia International Exhibition and Innovation here yesterday.
He said that many sectors and businesses here were severely affected due to the border closure, while many foreign investors have told the state government that they would no longer be able to operate if the border closure continues.
“We know that the Malaysia-Singapore border is one of the busiest crossings in the world. The tax collected on our side of the Causeway and Second Link contributes to 50% of the revenue of the Customs Department.
“The government must not only consider our request, but must make a decision immediately, as we cannot be in this position for much longer,” he said.
He added that in addition to business, thousands of Malaysians who commuted to Singapore for work could no longer do so and this has impacted them.
Last Monday, the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the government would continue to hold talks with its Singaporean counterparts about the full reopening of the two land crossings despite the fact that the former has seen a increase in Covid-19 cases lately.
Mustapa said it was one of the government’s main goals, adding that it would continue to seek a suitable solution.
“We understand that the Covid-19 pandemic has many risks and caused many problems, but there must be a balance between health and financial problems.
“We are hopeful that when the time comes, the border will be reopened even in stages, as it will help in the recovery of Johor’s economy,” he added.
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