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ISKANDAR PUTERI: Issues related to the reopening of the border with Singapore and the plight of Malaysians trapped in the island republic were hotly debated during the Johor state assembly here.
K. Raven Kumar (BN-Tenggaroh) said that there should be no delay in helping Malaysians who were in Singapore.
“The increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia and Johor has slowed down efforts to reopen the border with Singapore.
“As a result, Malaysians in the island republic become collateral damage, where some were forced to become homeless,” he said in a debate on the Johor Budget 2021 at the state assembly on Wednesday (December 2).
He praised the state government’s food basket initiative for Malaysians in Singapore who need help.
“Any kind of help, big or small, should not be delayed for them,” he said, and hoped his employers in Singapore would not neglect their well-being.
Andrew Chen Kah Eng (PH-Stulang) urged the government to facilitate the return of Malaysians in Singapore to their home country.
“The Periodic Transfer Agreement (PCA) has allowed Malaysians with a Singapore work permit to return home. They were allowed to go through home quarantine upon arrival in Johor if they tested negative for Covid-19.
“However, other Malaysians, including permanent residents of Singapore (PR), those with student cards, long-term passes or social passes cannot return through the PCA and had to go through the 14-day quarantine in the assigned quarantine centers. They also have to pay for quarantine on their own, “he added.
Chen said the government should study the policies they have introduced from time to time and make necessary changes when necessary.
“There is no difference between those who can enter Singapore through the PCA and those who cannot go through the scheme, as they all travel from the same country.
“However, different health and safety measures were put in place,” he said, adding that there is no justification for the different standards of treatment.
He also urged the government to move forward with a travel bubble initiative between Johor and Singapore after the situation between the two places has improved to reactivate tourism activities.
“Those who travel from low-risk countries should be able to enter the country,” he said.
Several assembly members also raised the issue in their debates during the state assembly since Sunday (November 29).
Cheow Yee How (PH-Perling) said he has been receiving numerous complaints about the problems people are facing due to the closure of the Malaysia-Singapore border, including family members who were separated due to the closure.
“I urge the government to consider reducing the quarantine period for low-risk people entering the country and introducing other methods of monitoring. This could include limiting their movement to only be in the state of Johor,” he said in his debate.
He noted that the cost of the quarantine has also made it difficult for those who had lost their jobs in Singapore to return to Johor.
“There are Malays who are unemployed in Singapore but fear returning to Malaysia because they fear having to pay the cost of quarantine here.
“I hope that the state government is informed on this critical issue, as sometimes the federal government is unable to understand the context of the problems that arise on the border here,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chew Chong Sin (PH-Mengkibol) said the state government should consider using the allocation that was previously used to attract foreign tourists to stay in the state for homeless Malaysians in Singapore.
“The government had previously allocated RM7mil to encourage foreign tourists to stay here, but now it cannot be used due to the movement control order (MCO).
“I suggest that the government use a portion of the allocation to help Malaysians who used to commute to Singapore and are now homeless in the island republic,” he said in his debate.
Dzulkefly Ahmad (PH-Kota Iskandar) and Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Parit Yaani) in their debates, urged the state government to continue pushing for the reopening of the Singapore-Malaysia border.
“The state government should come up with the best mechanism to allow the reopening of the border, especially since the number of cases in the island republic remains low,” Aminolhuda said, adding that this would help boost the local economy.
Dzulkefly said that the state government should continue to pressure the federal government in talks to implement the Plan for Daily Displacement for work reasons.
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