PETALING JAYA: With all of us cooped up at home, it’s easy to think that everyone shares the same Movement Control Order (MCO) experience. However, that’s far from the truth especially for Malaysians working in Singapore.
A Johorean manufacturing engineer who works in Singapore told TheSun that he was one of the many Malaysians who chose to stay back. “If we go back we’re forced to take annual leave, and if the MCO is extended we may be forced to go on unpaid leave,”
“Some of my subordinates are now stuck in Malaysia without wages and they’re waiting for the border to open. They tried applying for special permission to cross the border by the Malaysian Human Resources Ministry, but it was rejected,” he added.
He also said he was fortunate because his company provided a place to stay in the factory initially, and then provided clean and comfortable hostels. “It’s nice where I stay. But of course, I miss my previous routine at home and I had to buy new clothes,” he told TheSun.
It was also pointed out that other workers are missing their families, and birthdays are celebrated through video calls. “I am lucky not to have children back in Johor, but I do have a cat and dog at home that my neighbour feeds. However, he said the cat is nowhere to be seen,” he said.
Yesterday, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a partial lockdown effective today - with only essential service in operation. “I am still working because manufacturing is considered an essential service for now,”
“So far everything here seems normal as people are out and about,” he added.
