S’poreans Should Work In M’sia Instead? M’sian Minister Reshares His Old Speech On The Day The Ringgit Hits 2-Yr High Against SGD

On Jan 28, the Malaysian ringgit surged to a four-year high against the US dollar, and a two-year high against the Singapore dollar.

For Malaysian housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming, he took it as the opportune moment to reshare a 2022 clip, where he spoke about a vision he had for his country. He was speaking at a fundraising dinner in Johor.

Back then, he had predicted that Singaporeans might one day work in Malaysia, a reversal of what many Malaysians do right now.

Speaking about how many Malaysians wake up early to travel across the Causeway daily to work in Singapore, he said: "Isn't it a tough life? Going to sleep in Johor at night, and waking up at 5am to take a motorbike to go to Singapore to work, and coming back home again. Friends, this is not the type of life humans should lead.

“Don't you think we Johoreans aren't miserable? Do your fellow Johoreans need to lead this kind of life? Ask Singaporeans to come to Malaysia to work instead!" he had declared. 

The reposted video saw netizens flooding the comments section, though probably not in the way the minister intended.

“Our wages, currency strength, and quality of life… thanks for the offer minister, but no,” a Singaporean netizen said.

“Go over and get caught in your hours-long jam? No, thanks!” said another. 

A more measured comment came from a netizen, who's presumably Malaysian: “Instead of talking about Singaporeans coming over, shouldn’t the focus be on building a Malaysia that people won’t want to leave?”

Photos: Nga Kor Ming/Facebook, Pexel