Singapore gets food supplies despite Malaysia’s virus lockdown

Most Singapore wholesalers and retailers managed to receive goods after Malaysia imposed a partial travel lockdown the previous day to curb the spread of coronavirus, the city state’s Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said in a Facebook post Wednesday.

• Chan said Singapore is aware from companies that some trucks loaded with things other than food haven’t been allowed to come in. The government is monitoring the situation closely.
• Other goods such as pharmaceuticals and infant diapers have come through to Singapore from Malaysia.
• Most companies have also managed to secure necessary accomodation for Malaysian workers who have opted to remain in Singapore amid Malaysia’s recent travel ban, Chan said.
  • Chan thanked the Malaysian workers for their personal sacrifice of remaining in Singapore to ensure that business operations and essential services in the city state can continue.
  • NOTE: Many firms in Singapore are reliant on labor from Malaysia with some 300,000 people using the land crossings daily.
• Some Singaporean companies have activated alternative transport arrangements via sea and air freight to bring goods in from Malaysia.