THE decision to delay the reopening of the country’s international borders from March 1 to April 1 was due to concerns that the Johor state polls could have caused an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said this in response to a query from Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman in Parliament today (March 23).
“The decision to postpone (border reopening) for about a month was based on several matters that were brought up by the health minister for discussion,” he explained.
“If I remember correctly, because the Johor state election was around the corner then, we were worried as the decision we had to make was a major one.
“To reopen the borders requires focus on more important matters so that the rakyat and our country are safe.”
Syed Saddiq had requested that the Health Ministry provide a scientific explanation as to why Putrajaya had decided to postpone the reopening of borders just a month away from March 1 which was previously proposed by the National Recovery Council.
He also demanded an explanation saying many had speculated that the delay was aimed at stopping thousands of voters from returning to cast their votes in the Johor state polls.
Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching previously said that there are approximately 400,000 Malaysians currently working in Singapore, many of which are likely to be from Johor. – March 23, 2022
