JOHOR BARU: Business owners here are hoping to see more Singaporeans crossing over into Johor using the land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL-Land), which has been running smoothly since Nov 29.

       Tailor Roslan Harun, 42, said he hopes the VTL-Land would boost his income as he was badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

       “Before the border closure, my customers were mainly Singaporeans.

       “So far, even with the VTL-Land, I have yet to received a single customer from Singapore,” he said here yesterday.

       He added that his business, however, is seeing a slow recovery – with 40% sales recorded since Johor moved into Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).

       “I am confident that once the Malaysian and Singapore governments increase the number of travellers under the VTL-Land programme – and they can use other modes of transportation – I will get more customers,” he said.

       Jewellery store owner Dayana Haironi, 31, said despite the opening of the Causeway through VTL-Land, her Singapore-based customers continue to request that their items be sent via postal services.

       “So far, our customers have been locals, and this is probably because the majority of our Singaporean customers are still reluctant to cross the border,” she said.

       C. Suresh, 49, who owns a clothing store in Jalan Trus, said most of those travelling into Malaysia from Singapore using the VTL-Land were not Johoreans.

       “They will go back to their respective states to see their loved ones and families once they cross the border into Johor, instead of staying here for a while.

       “Even with the lack of Singaporean customers, I am still able to reach 50% of my business capacity, based solely on our local customers here,” he said.