SINGAPORE: The Malaysian High Commission in Singapore will continue monitoring the well-being of Malaysians stranded in the island nation from the border movement restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic since 2020.

       Malaysia’s newly-appointed head of mission to Singapore Datuk Dr Azfar Mohamad Mustafar said the mission was ready to lend a helping hand beyond consular advice, until those affected could start commuting daily like they did prior to the pandemic.

       Speaking to Bernama, Azfar said he was aware that most Malaysians who previously commuted daily from Johor ended up stranded in the republic as they had to choose between “life and livelihood” during this trying time.

       “It is quite difficult for them. Being the breadwinner of the family most of them decided to remain here and for the family to be in Malaysia.

       “This is the choice that they had to make,” he said when asked of his immediate task as the new High Commissioner to Singapore.

       Many Malaysians have been stranded in the republic since March 2020 due to border restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19.

       He acknowledged that some of the Malaysian setups here such as Maybank, CIMB and the Malaysian Association in Singapore (Masis) had been very helpful towards Malaysians stranded in the republic.

       Azfar also expressed his concern for the mental health of the affected Malaysians in the republic, especially when the matter had become a global phenomenon due to lockdowns and movement restrictions.

       “They need to make sure that they are not keeping their problems to themselves, try to be in a group and not in isolation.

       “We have to engage with Malaysians as some of them have not been able to go back to their homes in Johor for more than one year while some for even up to two years.

       “They only mostly communicate with their family through WhatsApp video calls but don’t even physically see their children. This separation affects everybody differently,” he said.

       To a question whether the daily commuting routine will return this year as Singapore is moving towards the endemic stage for Covid-19, Azfar replied: “It is quite premature to talk on this at this point of time.”

       He said he presumed once Singapore and particularly Johor achieve herd immunity, only then would it be possible to look into arrangements to allow people to commute daily or weekly.

       Azfar, the 17th Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore, handed over his credentials to Singapore President Halimah Yacob on Tuesday.

       He served as the ambassador to France, prior to his current appointment, since mid-2020. — Bernama