‘In-principle understanding’ that M’sian work permit holders can enter S’pore during lockdown: Lawrence Wong
The Causeway has been unusually empty since the Malaysian lockdown started on March 18, 2020.
SINGAPORE — Malaysia and Singapore have reached an in-principle understanding that Malaysians with work permits may enter the Singapore during their country's lockdown, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday (March 20).
Accommodation has to be provided for the Malaysian workers and they cannot commute across the border daily, Mr Wong added, in response to reporters' questions at a briefing. Talks are ongoing, he said.
Malaysia’s two-week lockdown, which took effect on Wednesday, lasts until March 31, and is meant to try to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The lockdown bars Malaysians from leaving their country and foreigners from entering, affecting Malaysian workers who commute daily between Singapore and Malaysia for work. They make up many of the 415,000 people who use the land checkpoints between the two countries daily.
The move has resulted in many Malaysian workers stranded in Singapore without a roof over their heads, and with some allegedly having had their jobs terminated by their employers here.
Earlier on Friday, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement that both countries have come to an agreement that Malaysians with Singapore work permits will continue to work here during this period, with appropriate health screening and suitable accommodation arrangements.
Elaborating on the discussions, Mr Wong said that Singapore is in discussion with Malaysia over allowing workers to return to Singapore, but it will not be “come and go”.
“I think there is, in principle, some understanding that they can come but accommodation has to be provided,” Mr Wong, who was speaking at a press conference by the multi-ministry Covid-19 taskforce, said.
Extra precautions to screen and make sure that Malaysian workers coming to Singapore are in good health will also have to be in place, he said, stressing that discussions are ongoing.
On Wednesday, Singapore announced that from 11.59pm on Friday, all Singaporeans, permanent residents, long-term pass holders and short-term visitors entering th country will be issued with a 14-day stay-home notice. This mean they have to strictly remain in their place of residence at all times and can incur penalties for breaking the order.
Mr Wong had said then that the travel restriction will also apply to those entering Singapore via the land checkpoints from Malaysia. But he noted that “separate arrangements” would have to be worked out “for people like truck drivers or others who move between Singapore and Malaysia every day”.
Speaking on Friday at the briefing, Mr Wong said that since the lockdown, employers have found accommodation for their Malaysian workers and that the Government has provided support to ensure that services to Singaporeans are not disrupted.
“I think that has been managed well because we have not seen disruption in our essential services like our public transport system or any other thing where Malaysian workers are involved.”
He added that both countries are also working out a “safe arrangement” for Malaysian workers, even after the lockdown period is over.
“We do not want daily commutes without any proper medical checks and precautions, so both sides will need to work out adequate measures and precautions for that.”
With the lockdown disrupting the flow of commercial goods between the two countries, both sides are also finding ways to do this “in a safe and sustainable manner”, he said.
In its statement, MFA said that Malaysian Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had assured Singapore's Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean that Malaysia will facilitate the smooth transporting of food across their land checkpoints during a phone call earlier on Thursday.
Mr Teo is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security.
Both sides will facilitate the bilateral transport of commercial goods across their land checkpoints, MFA said.
Both countries will also establish working groups under a Special Working Committee on Covid-19 to coordinate the movement of people and goods, as well as daily operational issues at the land checkpoints.
The committee is jointly chaired by Mr Ismail and Mr Teo.
