Johor hoping for exemptions

ISKANDAR PUTERI: There are more than 40,000 Malaysians still in Singapore and the state hopes that exemptions will be made by the island republic for them to be tested for Covid-19 before they are allowed to return to Johor.

Malaysians tested negative in Singapore will be able to go home and be quarantined there, while those without any certification or prior testing will be required to undergo compulsory 14-day quarantine at one of the government centres statewide.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said they were working with Wisma Putra to discuss the matter with their counterpart in Singapore, as presently, the city-state did not do Covid-19 tests unless a person had symptoms.

“That means a Malaysian can’t get the test done in Singapore unless they are symptomatic.

“We hope Singapore will allow for some exemptions so that Malaysians who want to return can get this test done at its clinics or hospitals, ” he said in an interview here.

Hasni, who is also Benut assemblyman, said he was confident that the matter would be discussed through the Malaysia-Singapore Special Working Committee on Covid-19 for a solution.

Asked about the success of the working committee, he said since the movement control order (MCO) was implemented on March 18, it has resolved certain issues, including easing the movement of cargo, essential and non-essential items between both countries as well as accommodation for Malaysian workers in Singapore.

“The government will not stop Malaysians returning from Singapore and I can assure them that our frontliners have taken all the necessary steps and procedures at our border, ” he said.

Hasni urged returning Malaysians to give their full cooperation to the frontliners conducting the necessary screening and testing at the checkpoints.

On the number of Malaysians returning from Singapore after the island republic started its own MCO known as “circuit breaker” on April 7 – which will go on until May 4 – he said the biggest influx was registered on April 3 with some 3,400 people.

“Since then there have been between 500 and 600 Malaysians coming back per day and we have been able to cope with the numbers, ” he said.