VACCINATED Malaysians in Singapore have hit out at ministries here for their slow response in approving their applications for home quarantine so that they can be with their families.

They said they had applied to return since the government’s announcement on August 8 that vaccinated Malaysians can quarantine at home upon returning from Singapore.

Previously, they only had the option to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks, which discouraged many from crossing the border because they would get to spend little or no time with loved ones.

However, despite the announcement, some, including a mother-to-be, said they were still waiting for a response.

Foong Weng Khong, 33, told The Malaysian Insight he was happy with the government’s decision.

The shipyard worker said he has not seen his family in Johor Baru for nearly a year, and misses his two children aged one and three.

“I have applied and planned to return home at the end of this month, and then stay for three months before heading back to Singapore to continue working,” Foong said.

“I haven’t received an official response yet. The process is so slow.”

Lim Swee Seng, 36, a machine programmer, also said the wait was painfully long.

Lim, who is also from Johor, wanted to know if the Ministry of Health is able to manage the application and approval process, adding that it was not complicated.

“Yet, the Health Ministry’s system has been stuck since the announcement was made. I waited for eight days before I was lucky enough to get a response,” he said.

He was at the Singapore checkpoint to enter Malaysia at the time of this interview.

“Now, I can finally go home to see my wife and my children. The children have been asking me about when and why I don’t return,” Lim said.

He also urged all returning Malaysians to be disciplined in their quarantine as he was worried that the rule would be withdrawn if abused.

A mother-to-be, Miko Khor, 29, said that the home-quarantine rule came in time for her as she was about to deliver her baby.

“I am two months away from giving birth, so I have planned to return home this month.

“If the government did not announce this measure, I would have to spend at least RM2,000 for hotel quarantine.

“Now, I can save this cost for other purposes,” Khor said.

However, she also had faced difficulties in getting a response from the ministry after emailing her application.

“I have sent another email and there is still no news. With this situation, along with some personal factors, I may face a delay in returning home,” she said.

Reduce red tape

Political parties also told The Malaysian Insight that they too have received complaints from Malaysians in Singapore over the delay in approvals.

MCA’s public complaints and service deputy bureau chief Chua Jian Boon said they have received five complaints.

He said there were Malaysians who were shocked to be sent to a hotel for quarantine after they exited the checkpoint.

He said many applicants complained about late or no response from authorities and were clueless on how to proceed.

“The National Security Council and the Ministry of Health should pay attention to this and set a deadline. For example, how long applicants should have to wait for a response.

“The authorities should minimise red tape in reviewing applications. Maybe consider adding an application section for home quarantine in the ‘My Travel Pass’,” he said.

The home quarantine measure covers all parts of the country, regardless of the various stages of the national recovery plan in each state.

Malaysian citizens and non-citizens who have a home in Malaysia – including permanent residents and people in the Malaysia My Second Home plan – can be home quarantined with the digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO) issued through the MySejahtera application.

Applicants must also be tested negative for Covid-19 and have a home environment conducive to the mandatory quarantine.

Before the pandemic, the Johor–Singapore Causeway had a daily flow of up to 300,000 people, mainly from Malaysians travelling to work in Singapore every day.

The Malaysia-Singapore checkpoint has been locked for nearly 18 months as Malaysians hesitated to return or were unable to pay the high quarantine costs even though they were homesick. – August 27, 2021.