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JOHOR BARU (THE STAR / ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Several business groups have fully supported Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad’s call to reopen the border with Singapore now that Malaysia has implemented its vaccination program.
Honorary Chairman of the Johor Tour Guides Association Jimmy Leong said that both countries depend on each other not only in terms of economy and trade, but also in terms of cultural and social aspects.
“Families on both sides have been separated for almost a year since the border was closed,” he added.
Mr. Leong said that the International Air Transport Association is developing a digital health pass to support the secure reopening of borders.
“Having a health pass that indicates that a person has received the vaccine will facilitate cross-border travel,” he added.
Johor Youth Council Chairman Md Salleheen Mohamad urged authorities in both countries to develop a systematic standard operating procedure before reopening the border to ensure smooth travel.
“Thousands of people from Johor and the island republic are expected to move once the border is opened,” he added.
Johor Indian Business Association Chairman P. Sivakumar said the state government should initiate an in-depth discussion with Singapore on reopening the border.
“Many people think that Singaporeans come to Johor for leisure activities like shopping, while Malaysians only go there for work.
“However, there are also Malaysians who support Singapore’s economy by investing and buying, which is good for its retail sector, and also by using Changi International Airport (for overseas travel),” he said.
Johor South SME advisor Teh Kee Sin said Malaysia may need a little longer to vaccinate its people due to its larger population.
The secretary of the Johor Indian Muslim Businessmen Association, Hussein Ibrahim, urged the federal government to give priority to the Johoreans to take the hits first.
“This will help convince Singapore to reopen the border to facilitate travel to the Republic via the Causeway and Second Link.
“This will rejuvenate businesses, especially in the city area, which has been hit hard for almost a year due to the shutdown,” he said.
On Tuesday (February 23), Datuk Hasni said that the state government hopes that the national Covid-19 immunization program will help spearhead efforts to reopen cross-border travel between Malaysia and Singapore.
The border with Singapore has been closed since Malaysia’s Movement Control Order (MCO) was first implemented on March 18 last year.
Only commercial vehicles that transport goods can cross the land border.
On Tuesday, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the island republic will discuss vaccine certification with interested countries as a way to resume travel.
In Petaling Jaya, Malaysian Employers Federation Executive Director Shamsuddin Bardan said that the vaccination program is expected to bring a gradual economic recovery once the pandemic is contained, allowing economic sectors to reopen, especially those services and industries related to tourism.
“The vaccination is expected to be rolled out in stages and will be completed in early 2022. With the launch of the national Covid-19 immunization program, the economy is expected to return to positive growth this year, in line with other economies that are generally dependent on vaccine implementation to increase employer and consumer confidence.
“Increasing consumer confidence is essential because it will boost consumption and growth in the local market,” he added.
But he also warned of the potential risk to economic growth if the deployment of the vaccine is not made based on the timelines to control the infection.
“We will not be able to control the consequences that could lead to another MCO, more political uncertainties and our international borders remain closed,” he added.
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