ISKANDAR PUTERI — The Johor government will request for a special dispensation to reopen its borders for certain categories of Malaysians working in Singapore, its chief minister Hasni Mohammad said on Wednesday (March 18).

He said the categories exempted will include those with work passes issued by both Singapore and Malaysia, students studying in Singapore, technicians, specialists, those involved in logistics, transportation drivers, foreigners and also Singaporeans living in Johor.

“With the dispensation, the state government will also implement more stringent health checks on both sides of the border crossing.

“This will be part of the mitigation plan in an effort to tackle the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease,” said Mr Hasni after chairing a state executive council meeting held in Kota Iskandar on Wednesday.

Mr Hasni, however, pointed out that social visitors and tourists will not be exempted from the special dispensation.

He also explained that the state government has set up a committee to come up with a mitigation plan to address the matter of reopening the border checkpoints with Singapore.

“The committee is made up of myself, as Johor’s chief minister, the state secretary, the state security council, state health department and also state immigration department.

“The recommendations of the committee will then be brought to a special Malaysia-Singapore committee to be discussed before being brought up to the federal government for deliberation,” said Mr Hasni, who is also the Benut assemblyman.

On Tuesday, Mr Hasni announced that Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has agreed to the setting up of the committee to discuss a mitigation plan for the movement of people and goods between Malaysia and Singapore.

The committee will be jointly chaired by Mr Hasni, defence minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob and a representative from the Singapore Cabinet — Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean.

On Monday night, Mr Muhyiddin announced the unprecedented shutdown of all non-essential services and activities across Malaysia in a bid to contain the country’s worsening Covid-19 situation.

He said the government will impose the restricted movement order from March 18 to March 31 as part of the measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The order bans Malaysians from travelling overseas, which has raised concern among Malaysians who commute daily into Singapore for work. MALAY MAIL