Johor to announce SOPs for Malaysian workers in Singapore

Kuala Lumpur

AHEAD of the reopening of the land borders between Singapore and Malaysia on Friday (Apr 1), the Johor government is expected on Tuesday to announce the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Malaysians who commute daily to work in Singapore.

Ling Tian Soon, a newly appointed state executive councillor and Yong Peng assemblyman, told The Business Times on Monday: "We are in discussions on some technical issues such as vehicle entry permits (VEPs). A clear set of SOPs will be unveiled by Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi on Tuesday," he added.

Ling, who helms the Health and Unity committee in the executive council, is also part of a special task force set up by the Johor state government to discuss the SOPs.

He revealed that the authorities will carry out a dry run at the 2 land checkpoints - the Causeway at Woodlands and the Second Link at Tuas - on Mar 30 as part of the preparations for the border reopening.

"The SOPs and dry run are important to ensure things go smoothly when we reopen, to welcome the influx of Singapore tourists and Malaysians who have not returned home for a long time," said Ling.

Last week, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that from

Apr 1, fully vaccinated travellers and non-fully vaccinated children below the age of 12 will be allowed to travel between both countries, without the need for quarantine and on-arrival testing.

They can do so in their own private vehicles such as cars and motorcycles, in addition to using designated vaccinated travel bus services.

There will be no quota for all modes of travel, and the checkpoints will operate 24 hours a day.

Before border restrictions were implemented in March 2020 to curb the spread of Covid-19, about 300,000 Malaysians would commute across the border daily for work.

Separately, Malaysia's Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said on Monday that all Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor will not have to pay the RM20 (S$6.45) road charge for 7 days starting Apr 1.

He said this will give motorists the chance to top up their Touch 'n Go cards in Johor, or register for Malaysia's VEP scheme.