Traffic congestion at JB checkpoint

KUALA LUMPUR (April 7): Thousands of Malaysians in Singapore rushed back to Malaysia yesterday, before the beginning of Singapore’s “circuit-breaker” today, causing traffic congestion in the Johor Bahru checkpoint.

The Singapore government has announced the one-month safe distancing and movement restriction measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 on April 5, which starts today till May 4.

Many Malaysians who work in Singapore are worried that the one-month movement restriction measures could cause them to be stranded and face the high living cost in the Lion City.

According to China Press reports, starting from 3pm yesterday, heavy traffic has been seen at Johor Bahru’s Sultan Iskandar CIQ Complex (Johor Bahru checkpoint), with thousands of Malaysian crossing the Johor Bahru-Singapore Causeway Link to return to their home.

Posts on a Facebook group focusing on Singapore-JB traffic information show that motorcyclists were stuck at the checkpoint due to congestion.

Heavy traffic continued until midnight, as those who returned from Singapore were required to fill in health check forms and had to be thermal screened before exiting from the checkpoint.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday said that Malaysians working in Singapore will not be allowed to return to Malaysia until a discussion of the Malaysia-Singapore joint working group is concluded.

Previously, the workers had to be certified free of the COVID-19 infection by Singaporean health authorities before they can return.

Stay calm. Stay at home. Keep updated on the latest news at www.EdgeProp.my #stayathome #flattenthecurve