JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 4 — The 60th anniversary of Malaysia-Singapore diplomatic relations this year provides a vital platform to enhance bilateral ties, with people-to-people relations remaining the cornerstone, said Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Azfar Mohamad Mustafar.
He said his main priority in the republic is to focus on people-to-people engagements, as it directly affects 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 3am or 4am 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 5am or 6am, 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 Masjid Al-Jawahir today.
Azfar added that 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.
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 noted 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.
