Search the Community

Singaporeans cancel CNY shopping trips to Malaysia as disputes drag onSingaporean-organised “shopping tours” into Johor ahead of the Chinese New Year are seeing last-minute cancellations as relations between the two countries tense up over a maritime and airspace dispute, reported Sin Chew daily. Community groups in the city state often run annual Chinese New Year shopping trips for Singaporeans to enjoy the cheaper prices across the border and stock up on festive goodies. However, many such shopping trips have recently been cancelled, according to the Chinese-language newspaper. Ms Liao Liyun, chairman of the Sengkang Rivervale Residents’ Committee, said that the annual one-day trips to Johor Baru and Batu Pahat would usually be snapped up by eager shoppers. However, with the relationship between Singapore and Malaysia growing increasingly tense, the committee decided to call off the trip this year, citing security concerns by participants. Ms Liao said residents have been given a full refund, and locals have settled on buying Chinese New Year goods at local warehouses in Singapore. Others have decided to cancel their shopping trips in a move to boycott Malaysian retailers. Ms Li Meihua, a member of the Yishun Constituency, told Sin Chew that residents have decided not to cross the border as Malaysia’s behaviour was “not friendly and they do not want to go shopping there". Malaysia and Singapore are embroiled in a dispute over territorial waters and airspace. Earlier on Tuesday, Singaporean Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said security forces have been ordered to exercise restraint after Johor chief minister Osman Sapian visited a Malaysian vessel in the Republic’s territorial waters. Foreign ministers from both countries met last week in the republic for talks, which will be followed by a meeting between the respective countries’ transport ministers at the end of the month. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT