JOHOR BARU: Johor hopes the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme will spearhead the reinstatement of cross-border travel between Malaysia and Singapore.
Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the reopening of the border was vital in spurring the state’s economy.
“Once people from both countries have been vaccinated, the movement between our two countries will be easier and safe, ” he said yesterday.
Border with Singapore had been closed since the first movement control order was implemented on March 18 last year. Presently, only commercial vehicles ferrying goods ply the two land borders daily.
Hasni said the state government was ready to carry out the immunisation programme at centres
which had been identified in every district.“We have also identified the medical personnel needed to carry out the programme, ” he said, urging Johoreans to continue following the MCO standard operating procedure to check the spread of the virus.
As a portion of the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived in the state on Sunday, Hasni said it brought a ray of hope to the people in Johor in the fight against Covid-19.
“The vaccine is not just to protect us but to allow us to form herd immunity to protect those we love.
“The vaccine is safe to be taken based on assurances from the Health Ministry, ” he said adding that for a start, he and the state executive councillors would be among the first to take the vaccine when the programme starts in Johor.
Meanwhile, as of Sunday, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Johor stood at 33,382 comprising 18,276 locals and 15,106 foreigners. There had been 91 deaths reported in the state so far.
