In the wake of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, the Malaysian government implemented a nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO), intended to restrict the movement of people and control the spread of the virus outbreak. The MCO takes place from 18th March 2020 until 12 May 2020.
As part of these measures, all Malaysians will be barred from travelling abroad, and foreign tourist and visitor entries will be banned. For those who are returning from overseas, they must undergo a health inspection and self-quarantine for 14 days. These measures are expected to severely affect the flow of commuters across Singapore’s two land crossings with Malaysia, as well as cross-border public transport services.
Timeline of Movement Control Order announcements:
- 2020 (Mar 16): Nationwide two-week Movement Control Order (MCO) announced for 18 March 2020 to 31 March 2020
- 2020 (Mar 25): Two-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 14 April 2020
- 2020 (Apr 10): Further two-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 28 April 2020
- 2020 (Apr 23): Further two-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 12 May 2020
Updates on Cross-Border Bus Services
With the above measures, all Cross-Border Bus Services would be temporarily suspended from 18 March 2020 – 12 May 2020.
| Svc | Route | Status |
| 160 | Jurong East Int ↺ JB Sentral Ter | Loop at Bus Stop 46509 – Marsiling Pk, Woodlands Ctr Rd |
| 170 | Queen St Ter – Larkin Ter | Loop at Bus Stop 46069 – W’lands Train Checkpt, Woodlands Ctr Rd |
| 170X | Kranji MRT – JB Sentral Ter | Suspended |
| 950 | Woodlands Int ↺ JB Sentral Ter | Suspended |
| AC7 | Yishun Int – JB CIQ | Suspended |
| CW1 | Kranji MRT – Larkin Ter | Suspended |
| CW2 | Queen St Ter – Larkin Ter | Suspended |
| CW3 | Jurong East – Perling Mall / Gelang Patah | Suspended |
| CW4 | Jurong East – Pontian | Suspended |
| CW4S | Jurong East – Sutera Mall | Suspended |
| CW5 | Newton Circus – JB CIQ | Suspended |
| CW6 | Boon Lay – Bukit Indah | Suspended |
| CW7 | Tuas Link MRT – Iskandar Puteri | Suspended |
| SJE | Queen St Ter – Larkin Ter | Suspended |
| TS1 | Changi Airport – JB CIQ | Suspended |
| TS3 | Marina Sq – JB CIQ | Suspended |
| TS6 | Buona Vista MRT – Gelang Patah Sentral | Suspended |
| TS8 | Resorts World Sentosa – JB CIQ | Suspended |
SBS Transit – Bus Services 160, 170 & 170X
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All SBS Transit Cross-Border Bus Services will no longer serve JB effective 1845hrs, 17 March 2020 until the Movement Control Order is lifted.
Image may be NSFW.17 MAR: Svcs 160 & 170/170X will no longer serve JB with immediate effect due to heavy congestion. Svc 170/170X will turn around at the W’lands Train Checkpt while Svc 160 will turn around at the bus stop along W’lands Centre Rd (46509), & resume their regular routes in Singapore
— SBS Transit (@SBSTransit_Ltd) March 17, 2020
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Service 160 loops at Bus Stop 46509 – Marsiling Pk, Woodlands Ctr Rd before heading back towards Jurong East.
Service 170 loops at Bus Stop 46069 – W’lands Train Checkpt, Woodlands Ctr Rd before heading back towards Queen Street.
Service 170X is suspended for the duration of the MCO. On the evening of 17 March 2020 (eve of MCO), it was diverted to loop at Bus Stop 46069 – W’lands Train Checkpt, Woodlands Ctr Rd before heading back towards Kranji MRT
SMRT Buses – Bus Service 950
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Service 950 is suspended for the duration of the MCO. On the evening of 17 March 2020 (eve of MCO) from 7pm till end of operations, it was to loop at Bus Stop 46069 – W’lands Train Checkpt, Woodlands Ctr Rd before heading back towards Woodlands Temporary Interchange.
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An earlier poster was uploaded online and was removed shortly. Additionally, signs spotted at Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange next to the Service 950 berth reflected the information that the last bus for 17 Mar 2020 would be at 7pm before being removed.
Causeway Link Cross-Border Bus Services
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Additionally, all Causeway Link Cross-Border bus services are suspended for the duration of the MCO, while local and express bus services in Malaysia continue to operate at reduced operating hours and frequency.
On the evening of 17 March 2020 (eve of MCO), last buses departed Singapore at 10.30pm towards Malaysia.
Other Cross Border Bus Services
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Cross-Border Bus Services from other operators such as Transtar (TS1, TS3, TS6 & TS8), Advance Coach (AC7) and Singapore-Johore Express are suspended for the duration of the MCO.
Shuttle Tebrau KTM Services
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In a media release on 17 March 2020 by KTM Berhad – “KTMB enforces Movement Control Order for train passengers”, only non-Malaysians would be allowed to board the Shuttle Tebrau train from JB Sentral to Woodlands Train Checkpoint, while only Malaysians are allowed to board from Woodlands Train Checkpoint to Woodlands effective 0830hrs on 18 March 2020.
Several days later (as of 26 March 2020), posters indicate that KTMB Shuttle Tebrau services were suspended.
Accommodation for Malaysian Bus Captains
Transport Minister Mr Khaw Boon Wan provided an update via a Facebook post on the situation, reassuring that sufficient hotel accommodation have been secured for all Malaysian Bus Captains from the various public transport operators (PTOs) who wish to continue to stay and work in Singapore.
In addition, all PTOs have come up with Facebook posts regarding accommodations for their affected Bus Captains & Staff.
- SBS Transit – Rendezvous Hotel Singapore, Village Hotel Albert Court, Oasia Hotel Novena
- SMRT – Genting Hotel Jurong, Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena, Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview
- Tower Transit – Genting Hotel Jurong, Citadines Balestier Singapore
- Go-Ahead Singapore – Changi Cove