Timing of border reopening nothing to do with Johor polls, says KJ

 

Khairy Jamaluddin says the reopening of borders was dependent on Singapore’s readiness to do likewise. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin has rubbished claims the government deliberately delayed the reopening of borders to prevent Malaysians in Singapore from returning to cast their ballots in Johor.

Acknowledging that a large number of Johoreans work and reside in Singapore, Khairy said such allegations had no basis when the city-state itself was not ready to fully reopen its borders.

“Although we decided to open our borders on April 1, Singapore has yet to make a decision on its reopening. How can it be our fault when we are ready but Singapore isn’t?” Harian Metro quoted him as saying.

He was responding to comments made by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who questioned the government’s decision to only open the country’s borders next month when Johor goes to the polls this Saturday.

Khairy said the issue should not be politicised and urged that the bigger picture of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic be considered.

“I hope this issue is not politicised because those who raised it, including the opposition leader, seem to not understand the current situation,” he said.

Johor goes to the polls this Saturday, with the Election Commission saying 2,539,606 voters are eligible to cast their ballots. There have been 21,407 early voters and ballots were sent out to 36,729 postal voters, including those who registered from overseas. - FMT