JOHOR BARU – Johor has suggested an early implementation of the third border-opening daily commuting arrangement scheme between Malaysia and Singapore, with priority given to the education sector.
Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the proposal was raised during a special video session with the National Security Council yesterday, which was chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“I have suggested to the prime minister that we can start the arrangement with the education sector first, involving college or private institution students in Johor, or Johoreans who study in Singapore apart from their parents. Guardians or teachers should also be given priority.
“This is because there is an urgent need from those who commute back-and-forth on a daily basis,” he said today.
Hasni said the scheme’s current implementation had yet to be decided by the government, but the state government had presented a comprehensive standard operating procedure regarding its implementation to the NSC.
He said this included a proposal that only about 7,000 individuals be allowed to commute in the early stages of the scheme’s implementation.
“All our proposals have been presented to a special committee at the federal level and based on the prime minister’s response yesterday, the NSC or the committee will discuss the matter and will inform the Foreign Ministry for further action.
“The state government will contact the Foreign Ministry to request that the proposal submitted by the state government be finalised immediately,” he said. – Bernama, November 19, 2020