Malaysians can continue working in Singapore - Ismail Sabri

Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Singapore is also prepared to conduct health screenings when they return to Malaysia to ensure they are free of the COVID-19 virus.

"All these costs will be borne by Singapore," Ismail Sabri, who is also Defence Minister, said at a special press conference in Putrajaya on Friday.

About 400,000 Malaysians are reported to be working in Singapore with almost 200,000 commuting from Johor Bahru daily by motorcycle.

Ismail Sabri also said the shipment of food products from Malaysia could also be continued provided the transport drivers have to go through screenings every time they enter or exit the country.

In the same development, he said the two countries would set up two special committees, one at the ministerial level and the other at the secretary-general level.

"The ministerial committee will be chaired by me and the Minister of Defence of Singapore while the working committee will be chaired by the chief secretary of the Foreign Ministry along with the chief secretaries of the other ministries of the two countries," he said.

He added for that reason, the Johor state government would be directly involved as it involves the daily movement from Singapore and Malaysia.

"We will monitor this from time to time," he said.

Ismail Sabri also called for the cooperation of parents who have gone back to their kampungs not to return to the capital as their children are having a school break for two weeks.