Long snaking queue forms outside Johor Bahru checkpoint before new quarantine rule starts in M'sia

New rule kicks in on July 24.

Zhangxin Zheng | July 23, 2020, 12:04 PM

Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to reopen their borders on August 10 for certain forms of travel.

But a new quarantine rule was seemingly responsible for long queues that were spotted outside Johor Bahru's checkpoint on the morning of July 23.

Long queues form outside JB checkpoint

Photos of the situation have been uploaded on Facebook, here are some examples:

At 8:40am:

Photo by Daniel Tan via Malaysia Singapore Border Crossings Facebook.

Quite a number of people were waiting under the hot sun to get into Malaysia this morning.

At 9am:

Photo by 雪花飘飘 via Malaysia Singapore Border Crossings Facebook.

At 9:30am:

Photo by Kiel Rins via Malaysia Singapore Border Crossings Facebook.

At 10:30am:

Photo by 雪花飘飘 via Malaysia Singapore Border Crossings Facebook.

New mandatory quarantine rule to kick in from July 24

According to The Star on July 21, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has announced that all returning Malaysians and visitors must be isolated at hotels and quarantine centres from tomorrow (July 24).

They have to bear the full costs of this compulsory quarantine as well. Prior to this, returning Malaysians are allowed to isolate themselves at home.

The change in quarantine rule comes after several cases where Malaysians were found not keeping to the compulsory quarantine at home.

The increase in global cases has also contributed the cases in Malaysia as Malaysians return from overseas.

Malaysians who wish to avoid bearing the cost of quarantine would likely try to get home before July 24, which could have resulted in the long queues outside the checkpoint this morning.

Top photos via Malaysia-Singapore border crossing/Facebook