Malaysia-Singapore 60th Anniversary: Welfare, Jobs And Connectivity In Focus - Envoy

JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- The 60th anniversary of Malaysia-Singapore diplomatic relations this year provides a vital platform to further strengthen bilateral ties, with people-to-people relations remaining the cornerstone, said Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Dr Azfar Mohamad Mustafar.

He said his main priority in the republic is to focus on people-to-people engagements, as they directly affect the welfare of Malaysians who commute daily across the border for work.

Among the initiatives, Azfar highlighted improvements at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Johor Bahru, which have eased travel for cross-border workers.

“In the past, we saw workers leaving their homes at 3 am or 4 am just to reach their workplace in Singapore on time. But with the improvements at the CIQ complex, they no longer need to travel that early.

“Now, even if they leave at 5 am or 6 am, they can still make it on time. These small changes give our workers more quality time with their families,” he told Bernama after the handover of a hearse van between Muslim Care Malaysia and 1 Third Media Movement at the Al-Jawahir mosque here today.

Azfar said bilateral cooperation in safeguarding people’s welfare has also been strengthened through the involvement of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), alongside economic collaboration, which continues to drive relations between both countries.

He said the 60th anniversary also marks an opportunity to deepen strategic cooperation, particularly through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

“The JS-SEZ has drawn significant attention, with many investors already expressing interest in investing in both countries. This effort will create more job opportunities in Singapore as well as in Johor.

“Malaysians who are now working in Singapore may eventually be able to work in Johor instead, giving them more quality time with their families,” he said.

Azfar said that the anniversary is not only a celebration of six decades of diplomatic relations, but also a springboard to explore new avenues of cooperation for the benefit of people in both nations.

-- BERNAMA