Cheers, fireworks as thousands cross Singapore-Malaysia land border after full reopening

Thousands of motorists made their way to Malaysia from Singapore after the causeway links reopened to vaccinated travellers for the first time in two years

Many gathered near the Johor Causeway to wait for the arrival of their family members as fireworks were let off in the background

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Vehicles form a long queue to enter the Woodlands Checkpoint in Singapore on April 1. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:10am, 1 Apr 2022Updated: 2:20pm, 1 Apr 2022

Thousands of people travelled between Malaysia and Singapore in cars, motorcycles and by foot on Friday after the land border separating the two nations reopened fully for the first time in two years.

The causeway links, one of the world’s busiest land crossings, opened at midnight last night, allowing vaccinated people to cross over without having to test or quarantine.

People began gathering at the border checkpoint as early as 7.30pm (local time) in Singapore, according to Straits Times and Channel News Asia, celebrating the possibility of reuniting with families and friends in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, the atmosphere around Johor Bahru city was just as lively, with many converging there to wait for the arrival of their family members, Malaysia’s Bernama reported. Shouts of “welcome back” were heard from those gathered near the Johor Causeway as fireworks were let off in the background, the state news agency reported.

More than 11,000 travellers passed through the checkpoints at Woodlands and Tuas as of 7am on Friday, Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority said in a statement.

At least 400,000 people are expected to cross the land border within the first week of the full reopening, Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghaz was cited by Malaysia’s local media as saying this week.