Coronavirus: Empty checkpoints at Woodlands, Tuas as Malaysia lockdown kicks in - The Straits Times

Coronavirus: Empty checkpoints at Woodlands, Tuas as Malaysia lockdown kicks in - The Straits Times

Coronavirus: Empty checkpoints at Woodlands, Tuas as Malaysia lockdown kicks in - The Straits Times

Posted: 17 Mar 2020 06:32 PM PDT

SINGAPORE - Silence descended on the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.

Gone were the crowds, the bumper-to-bumper traffic and the frenetic activity, as Malaysia's lockdown kicked in on Wednesday morning (March 18), and the land checkpoints between Singapore and Malaysia emptied.

The Woodlands Causeway and Tuas Second Link, which usually see about 415,000 travellers daily, shut normal operations as Malaysia proceeded with its latest effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus, announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday night.

From midnight, all Malaysians are barred from travelling abroad, while all foreign tourists and visitors to the country are banned.

Malaysians returning from overseas must also undergo a health inspection and self-quarantine for 14 days.

The impact of the closure, however, was felt only intermittently in food markets further inland.

Following Malaysia's assurance that the flow of goods and cargo between both countries would continue, stall owners said they generally had no problem with receiving fresh supplies on Wednesday.

Madam Teng Mui Hong, 45, who imports chickens from Malaysia and sells them at Empress Market on Farrer Road, told The Straits Times that she noticed an increase in footfall at the market.

She said: "There was double the number of people coming in the morning but we still had enough for them.


The stretch of road on the Bukit Timah Expressway leading to the Woodlands Checkpoint is almost devoid of vehicles at 10am on March 18, 2020. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

"Tell them (there is) no need to be scared, (there is) enough chicken," she said.

Fruit seller Teo Bee Ling, 50, said much the same.

He said: "People see the news and got scared. We still have enough tropical fruits from Malaysia like papayas and watermelons . We can also get fruits from other countries."

Fishmongers, however, said that supplies on Wednesday morning were erratic, unlike vegetables, eggs, pork and chicken imports which all proceeded as usual.

A 43-year-old fishmonger, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lee, at Ghim Moh Market said he received about 30 to 40 per cent fewer fish than usual.

He said: "Some of the suppliers and their staff were not able to unload the fish here. It's more difficult for fresh foods because we need the supply to come in on a daily basis."

Another fishmonger at the wet market at Bukit Batok East Avenue 3 also said her supplies fell by half.

Still, Mr Lee Boon Cheow, former president of the Singapore Fish Merchants' General Association, said: "We are still getting fish from Malaysia at usual prices.

"Singapore also gets its seafood from various other countries such as China and Thailand, so I'm not too concerned about the lockdown."

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) affirms that the country's food supply is not affected by Malaysia's movement control order.

It also said that based on feedback from importers, there are currently no disruptions to the country's fish supply from Malaysia, adding that Malaysia accounts for 15 per cent of Singapore's fish supply.

Its spokesman also said that Singapore imports food, including eggs, chicken and vegetables, from more than 170 countries and regions.

Should one source dry up, it will work with importers to tap on alternative sources and ensure food supply remains stable.

SFA has also been investing in local production to serve as a buffer when imports are disrupted.

The lockdown, imposed after Malaysia reported its first two deaths from the virus on Tuesday, is expected to last till the end of the month.

According to latest reports, there are now 673 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Malaysia.

The Covid-19 pandemic, which has infected nearly 200,000 people globally and claimed about 8,000 lives as of Wednesday morning, has upended international norms, with countries across the world imposing strict border controls and limiting their citizens' movements.

Related Stories: 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

This fish is worth $300,000 - New York Post

This fish is worth $300,000 - New York Post This fish is worth $300,000 - New York Post Posted: 05 Jun 2016 12:00 AM PDT With exacting precision, the surgeon inserted the scalpel above the eyeball and cut out a snotty deposit of fatty tissue. The routine eye-lift was nearly complete when suddenly the patient awoke, suffocating, and began to flop about on the table. The audience gasped. Knowing time was of the essence, the surgeon scooped up the patient in his arms, raced across the stage, and dropped her into a tank of water. She revived. Because she was a fish. Yes, fish eye-lifts exist. As do fin jobs and tail tucks. The operating theater was a mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, where a pet expo was under way. As for the patient, she survived, her formerly droopy eyes now bright and perky. A good thing, too, as this was no ordinary goldfish but rather an Asian arowana, the world's most expensive aquarium denizen, rumored to sell for as mu
Read more

NilocG Launches New Website for the Only All-in-One Thrive Fertilization Solution for Planted Aquariums - PRNewswire

Image
NilocG Launches New Website for the Only All-in-One Thrive Fertilization Solution for Planted Aquariums - PRNewswire NilocG Launches New Website for the Only All-in-One Thrive Fertilization Solution for Planted Aquariums - PRNewswire Posted: 11 Mar 2021 02:00 AM PST ALBANY, Ore. , March 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NilocG launches a new website for planted tank enthusiasts to gather and make THRIVE, a plant fertilizer that assures planted tank aquascapes flourish while eliminating the need for multiple products more readily available online. The company also takes it a step further in the industry, making its flagship product easy to dose, super-concentrated, and an all-in-one solution based on an effective EL dosing method with all essential micro and macronutrients. Continue Reading Thrive fertilizer: North America's most trusted aquarium plant fertilizer Colin Grice , CEO, a self-described planted tank lover, re
Read more

Catching Dory: selling aquarium fish supports coastal livelihoods in Indonesia | npj Ocean Sustainability - Nature.com

Image
Abstract The global marine aquarium trade has created new local markets across the planet, including in Indonesia, now the second-largest exporting country of marine aquarium fish in the world. Participating in the global aquarium trade has been touted as a potentially sustainable addition to fisher livelihoods, but scant data exist showing the numbers of fish coming off the reef and how those fish contribute to income. To determine how participants in the trade incorporate aquarium species in their livelihoods, we examine source-level aquarium fish collecting and trading data in the Banggai Archipelago, a region in Central Sulawesi that has become a significant source for popular aquarium, also known as ornamental, fish species. Using a sustainable livelihoods lens, we examine this data to understand how participants in the aquarium trade both contribute to as well as benefit from the trade and consider how their participation relates to emerging Blue Justice principles. From one year
Read more