Two days before the Movement Control Order was implemented, many Malaysians who hold Singaporean working passes had to leave their families and headed for the uncertainties across the causeway. The major jam that occurred on the night of 16 March on the Johor-Singapore Causeway took an hour to dissolve.
As the Singaporean government kindly took in the Malaysians with work permits by arranging accommodation for them, the said government could no longer do so when Malaysian Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin, announced the extension of the Movement Control Order until 14 April. It became an extended amount of time for the workers to be separated from their families in Malaysia.
Thankfully, some good news was released yesterday (4 April), stating that Malaysians with Singapore work permit are allowed to come home from their workplace. According to Channel News Asia, these Malaysians will be allowed to return to Johor only if they took a swab test at clinics or hospitals to prove that they are not infected with Covid-19.
This particular new regulation only applies to the Malaysians with work permit who left Malaysia before the implementation of the Movement Control Order. Johor Immigration Department mentioned that Malaysian citizens with the Singaporean Permanent Resident status who had travelled to Singapore during the Order period will be prohibited from returning to their home country.
“Malaysian citizens with Singapore permanent resident status who have gone to Singapore during the MCO are not allowed to return to Malaysia until the end of the MCO period.”
The Department further explained that if they left for Singapore before the Order kicked in, these Malaysians will be allowed to return to Malaysia during the Order. However, they will not be allowed to travel to Singapore again until the Movement Control Order is over.
“However, if you left before the MCO, you are allowed to return to Malaysia and only allowed to go back to Singapore after the MCO period. You are also subject to the regulations and procedures set by the Health Department.”
To address the previous regulation in regards to Malaysians with work permits only allowed to return to Malaysia if they obtain a letter from a clinic or hospital in Singapore stating that he or she is free of Covid-19 symptoms, the Johor Immigration Department stated that this is no longer applicable.
As for the Malaysians who got their Singapore work permit for the first time, they will be allowed to travel to Singapore only if they have an official letter provided by the Singaporean Ministry of Manpower. These workers should also have a letter from their employers as well as a guarantee of their employer’s willingness to provide food and accommodation for as long as the Movement Control Order commences.
We’re glad to see that these Malaysian workers are able to come home to their families.
Also read: Covid-19: Singapore Causeway Backed Up After M’sia Announces Country Movement Control Order
