Authorities Have Been Working Behind the Scenes to Unite S’porean Minors with Family from M’sia

It’s been a tough year for families and couples.

Many have been separated from their loved ones thanks to border restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Due to the implementation of the Movement Control Order in Malaysia, for instance, both Singaporeans and Malaysians have been torn apart from their families, and have had to remain split up for several months.

Well, unbeknownst to us, the authorities have been working behind the scenes to reunite those affected.

Authorities Have Been Working Behind the Scenes to Unite S’porean Minors with Family from M’sia

After months apart, some Singaporean minors who were stuck in Malaysia have been reunited with their families here after a “larger than usual repatriation”.

In a Facebook post on Sunday (13 Dec), Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan lauded the work of public officers from his ministry, including the Consulate-General in Johor Bahru, for their part in bringing Singaporeans back from Malaysia.

He also praised officers from the Ministry of Transport, the Land Transport Authority, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for their role in the repatriation.

“Our public officers have been working hard behind the scenes to arrange regular repatriations. With little fanfare, they have been helping Singaporean families reunite with their young loved ones who have been stuck in Malaysia since the imposition of the Movement Control Order in March 2020,” he said.

Ever since border restrictions have torn families apart, people on both sides have been doing everything they can to catch a glimpse of their distant loved ones.

20 M’sia Families Waved to Their Loved Ones Across the Border from a Yacht

Back in October, R&F Princess Cove, a housing development company, did a rather nice thing for 20 Malaysian families.

The firm offered them the chance to board their yacht and sail close to Singapore so they could wave to their family members here.

The event was aptly titled “Miss You My Love”.

It was an incredibly touching moment, where relatives could catch a glimpse of their loved ones and share their heartfelt messages.

Some even headed to Woodlands Waterfront Park so they could wave to their families on the other side.

“Unseen Heroes” Made This Happen

In his post, Minister Balakrishnan said he was proud of the “dedication and commitment” displayed by the public officers in various ministries.

“They are among the unseen heroes during this crisis,” he said.

The Foreign Affairs minister also extended his “sincere appreciation” to the Malaysian and Johor Immigration authorities for their assistance and cooperation.

“We will continue to work with them in the new year to mitigate the disruptions caused by travel restrictions on both sides,” he added.

Featured Image: Facebook (Vivan Balakrishnan)