M'sia minister says more S'poreans working in M'sia gradually becoming reality

Nga Kor Ming, the Minister of Housing and Local Government, said his comment from October 2022 — about getting Singaporeans to become foreign workers in Malaysia — was not meant to be negative.

The Malaysian politician told Oriental Daily in a Jun. 26 interview that he had reflected on his statement made during a fundraising dinner at the time and explained that it was to push Malaysia to improve its economy, so much so that Singaporeans would be attracted to work there.

Cited recent moves of companies to Malaysia

To make his point about the shifting workforce, he also said companies, such as H&M and Gardenia, have recently relocated to Malaysia, and Singaporeans are crossing the Causeway to work.

The 53-year-old said in Mandarin that some people might have misunderstood what he had previously said, but this shift is coming to pass: "This is becoming a reality step-by-step."

About making friends

He reiterated that Malaysia is not asking Singaporeans to be foreign workers, but that he is making friends with Singapore and the rest of the world.

"Singapore and Malaysia will always be good neighbours, good siblings, and good friends" he added. "If we are good, Singapore will be good. If Singapore is not good, we will also not be good."

Nga further said the completion of the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which will be open by January 2027, would be an attractive value proposition.

He explained: “We will have Malaysians who earn Singapore dollars in Singapore and then spend Malaysian ringgit. This is what we are working towards. Isn't that good?"

When the ringgit strengthened against the Singapore dollar earlier this year in January 2026 — the strongest level since May 2018 — the minister reposted his 2022 speech.