Malaysians stuck in Singapore miss family, fear job losses
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FINANCIAL concerns and separation from their families are some of the concerns Malaysians working in Singapore are facing, after the republic ordered a month-long restriction of movement starting April 7.
Singapore’s “circuit breaker” until May 4 to stop the chain of Covid-19 infections impacts about 45,000 Malaysians still in the republic and who would otherwise have commuted from Johor for work in the city state if not for the coronavirus pandemic.
Ivan Yap, 38, who is kept busy with his job repairing piping systems at hospitals, said he has been provided with accommodation at a hotel near his workplace.
“As a result, I am on call at any time when the hospital needs me. Even at night, foreign workers like me will have to work overtime if there is an urgent need,” he told The Malaysian Insight.
However, the hotel accommodation provided is only up till tomorrow, when the second phase of Malaysia’s movement-control order (MCO) was originally scheduled to end.
Singapore employers provided lodging for Malaysian workers after Putrajaya first announced the MCO on March 18.
Then last Friday, Malaysia extended the MCO until April 28.
Yap is now worried about finding a place to stay in the republic.
Yap’s wife and children live in Johor, where they moved a decade ago from his hometown in Sarawak.
He left Johor on March 17, a day before Malaysia’s MCO began and has not seen his family since.
As much as he wants to return now that Singapore’s circuit breaker is in place, Yap said his wife felt it is unnecessary besides the risk of contagion.
“I am worried now if Singapore extends their circuit breaker. Then I will be separated from my family for even longer.
“I am also worried about my family’s situation but at the moment, we feel it’s better if I stay and keep my job, as everything will be uncertain after this.
“We don’t know if there will be pay cuts. For now, I have to bite the bullet,” Yap said, adding that there are many others in a worse predicament, especially those who are casual workers with no income now but who can’t return to Malaysia.
Auditor Adelyn Huang also feels the pressure of staying on in Singapore to keep her job.
The 27-year-old said she’s glad to be able to work from home as all she needed was her computer and WiFi.
“I am lucky that my salary has not been cut but I do hope this pandemic will be over quickly and things can go back to normal,” said the Kota Tinggi local.
The last time she saw her family was at Chinese New Year in January, before the coronavirus began spreading rapidly out of China, which moved to lock down several of its provinces.
“I also don’t want to risk travelling back as I could be exposed to the virus and I don’t want to take it back to my family.”
Huang goes out to buy food, although her landlord will occasionally send her home-cooked meals, for which she is thankful.
Home renovations contractor Brandon Bok, 45, left Singapore for his hometown in Johor Baru before it began its partial lockdown.
Bok, who has worked in the republic for 20 years, said there is no reason to stay for work as there is none in his line of business.
“I have also not gone home to my family for some time, so I decided to take this opportunity.
“It’s a risk to my job security. My work as it is just enough to live hand-to-mouth but right now, I feel family is more important,” said Bok, adding that he had some savings he could live on for a while.
Under normal circumstances, more than 300,000 Malaysians living in Johor commute daily to work in Singapore.
With Singapore’s partial lockdown, Putrajaya has asked the republic to provide data on the number of Malaysian employees there so that it can plan for Covid-19 tests and crowd control should they cross the border to return home.
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is the National Security Council’s spokesman, also advised the estimated 45,000 Malaysian workers still in the republic to remain there if possible.
Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad also told Malaysian workers that they must be screened and observe a 14-day quarantine once they return from Singapore.
As of yesterday, Singapore recorded 2,532 Covid-19 infections, eight deaths and 560 recoveries.
Meanwhile, Malaysia recorded 4,817 infections, 77 deaths, and 2,276 recoveries. – April 14, 2020.