Chin Tong Questions If Delay In Reopening Singapore Border Is To Suppress Votes

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JOHOR POLLS | Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong has expressed concern whether the delay in reopening the country's border with Singapore was intended to suppress votes in the upcoming state polls.
He noted that the National Recovery Council (NRC), under Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, had recommended the government to reopen the borders on March 1.
However, that date came and went with no action from the BN-led federal government.
"It has been talked about by the NRC which first proposed it be reopened on Jan 1 and then on March 1, which was put forth by Muhyiddin.
"From what I heard, it's because of the state election - it's been delayed," Liow (above) said.
Both Pakatan Harapan and PN have pressed the government to reopen the border as most of the country is now vaccinated against Covid-19.
They argue that the economies of southern Johor and Singapore are intertwined, and people have faced economic hardship with tough travel restrictions for more than two years.
"I suspect it has something to do with the election where Umno does not want to see people coming back to vote," Liew told journalists after a walkabout at Taman Bukit Indah in the state seat of Perling, where he is contesting.
BN has traditionally benefitted when the voter turnout is low.
In the Malacca election last November, BN won a landslide victory. The turnout was 65.85 percent compared to a turnout of 84.52 percent in 2018.
DAP national organising secretary Anthony LokeNot enough proactive measures
DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said the cabinet has not been proactive in taking the lead to reopen the border with Singapore.
"I am sure Singapore is also on the same page. The Singapore government also wants to open their borders immediately as they know Johor Bahru and Singapore are highly integrated.
"Closing the border is not an option over the long term... But of course, to reopen the border you need a lot of conditions and to work out a safe method.
"Our side is not taking enough proactive measures to reach out to the Singapore side," the former transport minister added.
Instead, Loke said the ministers appear busy politicking amid tensions between BN and PN.
BN and PN are part of the federal government, but a resurgent BN is trying to push PN out of power.
It unilaterally triggered the Johor polls in a bid for BN to gain the mandate on its own so that it can govern the state without PN's involvement.
Johoreans are set to go to the polls on March 12.
Johor has a large population working in Singapore.
Prior to the pandemic, an estimated 350,000 Malaysians cross the Johor-Singapore causeway daily to work.
Following tough border restrictions introduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many have either sought to be based in Singapore or opted to find new employment in Malaysia. - Mkini

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