MB: Border needs to be reopened for students

Hasni (fifth from right, on stage) with Johor Media Club members at the annual general assembly.

JOHOR BARU: The Federal government needs to expedite discussions on the reopening of the border with Singapore for daily commuters.

Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said this needed to be done as it was affecting educational institutions here which depend on students from Singapore.

He revealed that an international school in Iskandar Puteri was in danger of closing down because many of its students living in Singapore were unable to attend classes due to the closure of

the border.

Hasni said he would meet the Prime Minister and urge the Federal Government to speed up discussions on the reopening of the border.

He said the school’s students numbering between 800 and 900, could not commute daily between Singapore and their school because of the border closure.

The border has been partially closed since the movement control order came into force on March 18.

“I received a letter from the school, asking for help from the state government to find a way to allow their students to travel daily to attend classes.

“In the letter, the school described the challenges that it is going through, including the possibility of having to shut down as it is unable to operate as usual,” he said at the Johor Media Club annual general assembly.

The school, which he did not name, has been operating for eight years.

There are more than a dozen schools operating in Iskandar Puteri.

Hasni said it would be a huge loss for Johor should an international-level educational institution cease to operate.

The state government, he said, would be discussing the matter with Putrajaya to allow students to travel between Johor and Singapore for their classes.

On another matter, Hasni said Wisma Putra would be presenting a paper to the Cabinet soon on opening a Johor government office focusing on economy, trade and culture in the island republic.

“We believe that with our presence there, we will be able to explore more collaborations between us and Singapore,” he added.

“Our interest is not limited to only trade but also other areas, such as water resources and boundaries.

“These are issues that require good relations between Singapore and Johor.”