JOHOR BARU: The causeway connecting Malaysia and Singapore here, listed as the busiest land route in the world, has been eerily quiet with no movement whatsoever since early this morning.
This follows the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) from today until March 31 to curb the spread of the Covid-19 infection.
Movements between both sides of the international border separated by the Johor straits has also come to a complete standstill.
A check found that there was no congestion from 4am to 9am which is daily normal occurrence, as Malaysians commute to the republic for work.
The 1.05-kilometer causeway connecting Johor Baru with Woodlands in Singapore was built in 1923.
Some 70 per cent of tourists and visitors entering Malaysia utilised the crossing daily and as such it was listed as the busiest land route in the world.
It is the main gateway between Malaysia-Singapore besides the second link at the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB), in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah.
An estimated 250,000 Malaysians work in Singapore commuting through the Causeway, with scenes of motorcyclists lining up and waiting to enter the republic a daily routine.
According to statistics, some 400,000 Malaysians make a living in Singapore with almost 200,000 commuting from Johor Baru to the city-state daily by motorcycle, the majority of whom journey to the republic via the causeway.
On Monday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the implementation of the 14-day MCO under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967.
This drastic action was taken to prevent the spread of the disease by limiting the movement of the public. It is the only way to prevent more people from getting infected.
