SINGAPORE: As assured by Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday, Singapore has received its supply of goods while the movement control order is already in force.
“I am glad to see that the supply of fresh foods has not been fully disrupted and most of our wholesalers and retailers managed to receive their goods as per normal since this morning,” the republic’s Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said.
In his Facebook post today, Chan said other goods such as pharmaceuticals and infant diapers have also managed to come through to Singapore.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in a post on his Facebook account Tuesday, said he was given assurance on the matter over the phone by Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin, on Monday, declared a nationwide movement control order for Malaysia from March 18 to 31 to combat Covid-19.
Chan noted that he spoke to his Malaysian counterpart Senior Minister and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali this afternoon.
“I thanked him for facilitating the flow of goods and supplies into Singapore during this period and told him that we will continue to work closely with Malaysia to slow down the spread of Covid-19.
“We both noted that it is in our mutual interest to ensure that supply chains remain robust and in working order, and agreed that we must maintain confidence in our people and businesses in order to successfully overcome the challenges posed by Covid-19,” he wrote.
Chan said some Singapore companies have also activated alternative transport arrangements via sea and air freight to bring their goods from Malaysia to Singapore.
“Our economic agencies are working with our companies, in particular those dealing with essential products and services, to minimise disruption to their supply lines,” he said.
On affected workers, Chan said most of the companies have also managed to secure the necessary accommodation for their Malaysian workers who will be staying in Singapore for the next two weeks to continue working in the republic.
“It must not be an easy decision for them to leave their homes and families to stay in Singapore during this period. We thank the Malaysian workers who decided to make this personal sacrifice to ensure that business operations and essential services can continue in Singapore,” he said.
The Singapore government is providing employers in the island-state with financial support of S$50 per night for 14 nights for every worker affected by the order. — March 18, Bernama
