While Malaysia's strict border control measures to fight the spread of Covid-19 may be lifted eventually, more restrictions will still have to be put in place.

In other words, the border between Malaysia and Singapore can't go back to the way things were in a pre-Covid-19 situation, at least for the foreseeable future.

Additional precautions required

This was shared by National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs Singapore's Joint Ministry Taskforce on Covid-19, at a press conference on Tuesday (Mar. 17).

"Of course, we'll also look at what we need to do beyond this when the measures are put in place because at some point, if the measures were to be lifted on the Malaysian side, we certainly don’t think we can go back to business as usual."

Wong added that the measures will cause inconvenience, inevitably, but said we should all bear in mind that these measures put in place by the Malaysians will help to control virus transmission within Malaysia and across the border.

"So, while the measures will cause inconveniences and disruptions, they will be helpful in allowing both sides to control the spread of the virus. So, we will make the adjustments where necessary when it comes to the workers. But we also will need to continue with all our efforts to limit the number of imported cases to limit the spread of the virus within Singapore itself."

A bilateral working group set up that includes Singaporean and Malaysian officials will allow the Singapore authorities to discuss and iron out the details of these precautions with their Malaysian counterparts, both in the interim and past the March 31 date given by Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Keeping essential goods and services coming into Singapore

Wong also described the discussions taking place between Singaporean and Malaysian authorities, which involved ensuring that the flow of essential goods and services into Singapore remains unimpeded.

On its part, Singapore also will work with employers here to ensure that Malaysian employees here who are affected by the lockdown have suitable accommodations so they can continue working.

At the same press conference, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo announced that S$50 will be disbursed daily to firms that are housing their Malaysian employees throughout the 14-day lockdown period:

https://mothership.sg/2020/03/malaysian-workers-50/?t=1

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Top image by Calvin Teo via Wikimedia Commons