SINGAPORE – Malaysians returning home under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) have been caught off guard by the Singapore government's reversion to a 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) from seven days previously.
Some say they have had to cancel their plans to return upon realising that the cost of the SHN will increase.
Many have taken to social media, such as the 73,000-member Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers Facebook page, to express their displeasure.
"My husband is one of those affected," said Hazuraini Hussin, whose husband works as a cleaner at a condominium in Bukit Timah, here.
Hazuraini said her husband, Nazmin Ismail, had taken seven days' leave to return to Johor last Tuesday and is expected to re-enter the republic on November 24, a day after the implementation of the new measures.
The couple, whose only son will celebrate his third birthday next month, have been separated for the past eight months following strict border measures between the two countries to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“My husband is trying to appeal to the employer to make a salary deduction for the SHN cost of about S$2,000 (RM6,092). He is still waiting for an answer," she said.
She said his employer had applied to the relevant authority for her husband to change his return date to Singapore for a day before the new rules come into force, but was unsuccessful.
Last month, Hazuraini helped another Facebook page member, Nazmin, find an affordable hotel for her husband to undergo the seven-day SHN.
"Previously, with the help of the page’s members, we found a hotel that offered a price of S$400 for seven days. Now, the cost has jumped almost fivefold and is equal to two months of my husband's salary,” she said.
"We only hope that the employer, if they cannot share the SHN cost, will at least deduct my husband's salary on a monthly basis," said Hazuraini, who hails from Besut, Terengganu.
Last Monday, Singapore's Health Ministry had announced it will tighten border measures from November 23, given the resurgence of virus cases in Malaysia.
The ministry said all travellers entering Singapore from midnight on November 22 who have a travel history, including transit, in the past 14 days to Malaysia, will be required to serve a 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities.
The measures also apply to travellers entering Singapore to work under the PCA and returning Singapore-based travellers under the Singapore-Malaysia Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL), it said.
Singapore had earlier announced that travellers from Malaysia are allowed to serve a seven-day SHN at their place of residence from September 1, except from Sabah, who are required to serve a 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities from October 15. – Bernama, November 21, 2020
