Workers, businesses in Johor hit by loss of Singapore dollars

[UltimaOnline]

Workers, businesses in Johor hit by loss of Singapore dollars

JOHOR BARU - Mr Ridwan Mustafa, 34, was one of thousands of Malaysians who lost their jobs in Singapore by July last year.

Faced with the loss of regular income, the former Rentokil employee decided to go into business. Relying on his savings, he took out loans to set up a restaurant and found himself jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

The retail sector and eateries especially were hit badly by lockdown restrictions as Malaysia battled its deadliest Covid-19 wave which has claimed 23,000 lives so far this year.

"If not for the pandemic, my business was very good," said Mr Ridwan, referring to the second half of last year before Malaysia returned to a series of lockdowns. "Now, me and my wife always argue because after we buy ingredients, they are all wasted because nobody can dine in."

Before the border closed in March last year, about half a million people crossed by land between Singapore and Johor Baru, many of them just day-trip visitors from Singapore taking advantage of the stronger currency to partake in the cheaper food and shopping available across the Causeway.

Both employees and entrepreneurs in the southern state of Johor, especially the capital Johor Baru which faces the Tebrau Strait, have suffered from the dearth of Singapore dollars. Some have gone without any income for over a year, and a fifth of smaller businesses in southern Johor are in financial distress.

Downtown Johor Baru has been devoid of the usual crowds after Malaysia’s worst coronavirus wave forced a lockdown in May, with Johor being the “epicentre” of the pandemic. PHOTO: SYAHRIL AZRUL HAR

"Without the two major spending groups - visitors from the island and Malaysians who earn Singapore dollars - more than 20 per cent of SMEs are expected to wind up their business," South Johor Small-Medium Enterprises Association adviser and founding president Teh Kee Sin told The Sunday Times.

Estimates by the state government as well as Malaysian-Singapore Workers Task Force president Dayalan Sreebalan show that over 100,000 people have had to forgo wages in Singapore.

Many are unable to meet their commitments such as home loans, said Mr Dayalan, as such expenditure was budgeted by workers taking advantage of the stronger Singapore dollar they were earning.

"Whatever job in Malaysia is not going to be enough," he told ST.

Before Friday, Johor was one of only two states yet to exit the first phase of the Malaysian government's four-stage National Recovery Plan for the pandemic, which allows more movement and economic activity to take place in areas with low hospitalisations and high vaccination rates.

A fifth of smaller businesses in southern Johor are in financial distress. PHOTO: SYAHRIL AZRUL HAR

Up to last month, the southern state had the second lowest vaccination rate in the country after Sabah. The rate in Johor remains below the national average although more than half of its population have been fully inoculated.

Mr Teh said entrepreneurs had been scrambling to secure vaccination in recent months, both in the hope of resuming or ramping up operations and to minimise the cost of quarantine or the loss of manpower.

Many eventually decided to opt to pay for the vaccinations, eschewing the free jabs offered by the government.

Mr Ridwan's Dapur 3 Dara restaurant is among those that are still unable to welcome customers to dine in, as its staff are not fully vaccinated.

But the father of three daughters cannot wait for the day when Singaporeans return to Johor.

"Most of my ex-colleagues in Singapore want to come to my restaurant. They are just waiting for the border to reopen."

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/s...ses-in-johor-hit-by-loss-of-singapore-dollars

 

[batman1]

Daily covid-19 cases jump to 1500 - 2000 .DO NOT REOPEN THE BORDERS.

 

[Pinkieslut]

Great news! Jiuhu kias open arse holes also no buyers!

 

[laksaboy]

Up to last month, the southern state had the second lowest vaccination rate in the country after Sabah. The rate in Johor remains below the national average although more than half of its population have been fully inoculated.

Still clinging on to the false belief that vaccinations will restore everything to the 'good old days'. Spoiler alert: 100% vaxxed and every six months booster shots, also no use. They are destroying the middle class and the small business owners... that's part of the plan. The Great Reset.

 

[mudhatter]

Teh Kee Sin told The Sunday Times
'nuff said

jhk chinks merely 5th columns in malaysia

why are these 5th columnists allowed to stay in malaysia?

they can hop on over to stinkypura hot stifling one party state humid 160th media eunuch loong led banana republic the size of a postage stamp to paraphrase another jh minister

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Mudland needs singkieland more than singkieland needs mudland?

Workers, businesses in Johor hit by loss of Singapore dollars
Former Rentokil employee Ridwan Mustafa quit his job in Singapore when the border closed so that he could care for his family in Johor Baru. But Covid-19 restrictions has left him in debt after a promising start to his new F&B business.
Former Rentokil employee Ridwan Mustafa quit his job in Singapore when the border closed so that he could care for his family in Johor Baru. But Covid-19 restrictions has left him in debt after a promising start to his new F&B business.PHOTO: SYAHRIL AZRUL HAR

JOHOR BARU - Mr Ridwan Mustafa, 34, was one of thousands of Malaysians who lost their jobs in Singapore by July last year.

Faced with the loss of regular income, the former Rentokil employee decided to go into business. Relying on his savings, he took out loans to set up a restaurant and found himself jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

The retail sector and eateries especially were hit badly by lockdown restrictions as Malaysia battled its deadliest Covid-19 wave which has claimed 23,000 lives so far this year.

"If not for the pandemic, my business was very good," said Mr Ridwan, referring to the second half of last year before Malaysia returned to a series of lockdowns. "Now, me and my wife always argue because after we buy ingredients, they are all wasted because nobody can dine in."

Before the border closed in March last year, about half a million people crossed by land between Singapore and Johor Baru, many of them just day-trip visitors from Singapore taking advantage of the stronger currency to partake in the cheaper food and shopping available across the Causeway.

Both employees and entrepreneurs in the southern state of Johor, especially the capital Johor Baru which faces the Tebrau Strait, have suffered from the dearth of Singapore dollars. Some have gone without any income for over a year, and a fifth of smaller businesses in southern Johor are in financial distress.


Downtown Johor Baru has been devoid of the usual crowds after Malaysia’s worst coronavirus wave forced a lockdown in May, with Johor being the “epicentre” of the pandemic. PHOTO: SYAHRIL AZRUL HAR
"Without the two major spending groups - visitors from the island and Malaysians who earn Singapore dollars - more than 20 per cent of SMEs are expected to wind up their business," South Johor Small-Medium Enterprises Association adviser and founding president Teh Kee Sin told The Sunday Times.

Estimates by the state government as well as Malaysian-Singapore Workers Task Force president Dayalan Sreebalan show that over 100,000 people have had to forgo wages in Singapore.

Many are unable to meet their commitments such as home loans, said Mr Dayalan, as such expenditure was budgeted by workers taking advantage of the stronger Singapore dollar they were earning.

"Whatever job in Malaysia is not going to be enough," he told ST.

Before Friday, Johor was one of only two states yet to exit the first phase of the Malaysian government's four-stage National Recovery Plan for the pandemic, which allows more movement and economic activity to take place in areas with low hospitalisations and high vaccination rates.


A fifth of smaller businesses in southern Johor are in financial distress. PHOTO: SYAHRIL AZRUL HAR
Up to last month, the southern state had the second lowest vaccination rate in the country after Sabah. The rate in Johor remains below the national average although more than half of its population have been fully inoculated.

Mr Teh said entrepreneurs had been scrambling to secure vaccination in recent months, both in the hope of resuming or ramping up operations and to minimise the cost of quarantine or the loss of manpower.

Many eventually decided to opt to pay for the vaccinations, eschewing the free jabs offered by the government.

Mr Ridwan's Dapur 3 Dara restaurant is among those that are still unable to welcome customers to dine in, as its staff are not fully vaccinated.

More on this topic

 

[Tun Tija]

Lost a job during covid. Then take a bank loan to start a restaurant business in the middle of covid. Is m&d really have a lack of business acumen? Pity pity.

 

[sweetiepie]

Actuallee most of the msian that crosses the bridge to earn sgd are Chinese and Indians KNN in fact my uncle doesn't know any m&d that do this KNN however many sinkie m&ds went jb to stay and commute to sg to work KNN

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Mudland needs Singkieland more than Singkieland needs mudland?

Shops in KSL City Mall in JB mostly closed or empty, lack of S'poreans likely cause​

Domestic demand is not enough.
Belmont Lay |

October 05, 2021, 06:20 PM

KSL City Mall in Johor Bahru is a ghost town.
Photos of the shopping centre taken recently were shared to a Facebook group about happenings in Malaysia's southern most state.
The mall's premises appeared empty, with many shops shuttered.

Business down due to pandemic​

A favourite haunt of Singaporeans during the pre-pandemic days due to its proximity to the Causeway, business has been severely affected due to closed borders.
The Facebook post's caption roughly translates to:

"Now that there are no Singaporeans, it is uncertain how long recovery will take. This place used to rely on providing services, now it feels like Johor is the the poorest of 13 Malaysian states."

Responses turned situation political​

Reactions to the post quickly turned political.

One comment that captured the mood read: "In the past, locals complained that Singaporeans bought things and prices increased, but now they lament that there are no Lion City residents to stoke demand. Just like the Malaysian government, they can speak from both sides of their mouths. Roti prata."
However, other comments were quick to provide different points of view.
One comment said the mall is but one retail space in Johor, and there are others that are starting to thrive again
Mid Valley Southkey shopping centre, the commenter claimed, has been packed with people with pandemic restrictions easing.
Another commenter said the KSL City Mall is bound to be empty now as it is catered to Singaporeans and Malaysians who frequently make their way back home to and fro the two countries.
Domestic demand was not the main focus of the mall from the start.
With borders shut, the lack of human traffic is understandable.
Moreover, the rent in the mall is exorbitant compared to elsewhere, another comment said, which is why businesses rather fold for the time being then continue to sustain losses amid an uncertain future.
Singaporeans commenting on the post mostly expressed shock and sadness at the state of their favourite shopping centre.

Johor retail businesses affected badly by Covid-19​

Businesses in Johor Bahru have been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, with empty shops witnessed since mid-2020.
Politicians on the other side have been lobbying to have borders with Singapore reopened to facilitate an economic revival in the Malaysian state.
Top photo via

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[Hypocrite-The]

Mudlanders sure are desperate for the borders to be open...

Theindependent​

Photo: Google Maps
The “health and safety of the people, in addition to the current COVID-19 situation in both Malaysia and Singapore”, is the main issue to be considered in negotiations.
October 5, 2021
- Advertisement -
Johor Bahru — The standard operating procedures (SOP) proposed by the state government for reopening the border between Malaysia and Singapore has been approved by the technical committee in charge of its oversight.
Now, it is up to Malaysia’s senior ministers to say yes.

According to the Chief Minister of Johor, Datuk Hasni Mohammad, bilateral talks will be held once the senior ministers agree to the proposed SOP.

The Menteri Besar was quoted in The Star on Monday (Oct 4) as saying, “The technical committee has agreed to the SOP we suggested, and now we are waiting to get a nod from senior ministers.​

The Health Ministry would decide on a date for the proposal to be presented to the senior ministers and once they accepted it, we could begin talks with Singapore.”​

He made these remarks at a press conference after launching the Johor Tourism Interchange and opening ceremony of the Virtual Majestic Johor Week 2021.
When a journalist asked whether the number of cases in Singapore would impact the border’s reopening, he replied in the negative.
- Advertisement 1-
The reopening will be a gradual one, dependent on the pandemic situation on both sides, he said, during a ministerial reply to the Royal Address in parliament.
“I understand that recently our Health Minister (Khairy Jamaluddin) had a telephone discussion with his Singapore counterpart Ong Ye Kung on the proposed reopening of the Malaysia-Singapore border. We pray and hope this will be resolved as soon as possible,” he said.
Mr Saifuddin pointed out that since the pandemic is still ongoing in both countries, strict health regulations regarding cross-border movements will need to continue to be implemented.
He said that the “health and safety of the people, in addition to the current COVID-19 situation in both Malaysia and Singapore” is the main issue to be considered in negotiations, according to a CNA report. /TISG

 

[batman1]

WHAT can Johore offer to Singapore ?

 

[rushifa666]

Counting on sinkies you will always fail

 

[syed putra]

Mudland needs singkieland more than singkieland needs

Definitely. Umno destroyed whatever chance of operating a business. The umno guys wanted everyth8ng for themselves.

WHAT can Johore offer to Singapore

Water, massage, johore laksa, mee bandung, mee rebus( not sweet version) , cheap petrol.

(According to the Chief Minister of Johor, Datuk Hasni Mohammad, bilateral talks will be held once the senior ministers agree to the proposed SOP.)

muhyiddin for personal reason locked down without giving advance notice causing havoc to businesses and workers of both countries. The real reason for lockdown has noth8ng to do with covid but politics. Muhyiddin needed the time to bring sll the malay parties together.because of the selfish reason, he destroyed the evonomy of the country.

 

[tobelightlight]

i have a chat with my blanga friend who work in jb. he told me he work 14 days and 14 days off for 1 month. and thus less salary. Business is really bad.

 

[tobelightlight]

Still clinging on to the false belief that vaccinations will restore everything to the 'good old days'.

They, especially the authorities, think that vaccine can prevent virus. They do not know that the virus is harmless and do not know that vaccine contain poisonous ingredients that will harm their body and health.