Causeway, Second Link deserted as border crossing to S'pore shuts down

JOHOR BARU: The usually congested Causeway is now deserted with not a single vehicle in sight on Wednesday (March 18), the first day the movement restriction order (MCO) goes into effect in the country.

The bridge linking Johor Baru and Woodlands in Singapore is now completely void of traffic as the MCO prohibit the movement of Malaysians and foreigners in and out of the country.

At 10am this morning, not a single vehicle was spotted crossing along the bridge, where usually one would see hour-long jams as people commute to and from work and school.

A similar situation unfolded at the Second Link as a blockade before the Tanjung Kupang Toll has been set up to only allow lorries delivering goods to enter.

Just 10 hours earlier, the traffic at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Compex was in a gridlock as many tried to beat the midnight deadline when Malaysia closed its borders with Singapore.

Many motorists and motorcyclists, who were turned back, expressed their frustration with the long traffic jams.

Malaysia has imposed cross-border restrictions on commuters beginning today until the end of the month.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad is expected to inform about the latest happenings after his weekly state exco meeting later today.