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.
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.
Cross Border Public Bus Services resumes from 1 May 2022.
Timeline of Movement Control Order announcements:
- 2020 (16 Mar): Nationwide two-week Movement Control Order (MCO) announced for 18 March 2020 to 31 March 2020
- 2020 (25 Mar): Two-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 14 April 2020
- 2020 (10 Apr): Further two-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 28 April 2020
- 2020 (23 Apr): Further two-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 12 May 2020
- 2020 (10 May): Further four-week extension to MCO announced; ending on 9 June 2020
- 2020 (07 Jun): Recovery MCO announced to start on 10 June 2020; ending on 31 August 2020
- 2020 (28 Aug): Recovery MCO announced to be extended for 4 months; ending on 31 December 2020
- 2021 (01 Jan): Recovery MCO announced to be extended for 3 months; ending on 31 March 2021
- 2021 (30 Mar): Recovery MCO announced to be extended for 2 weeks in selected states; ending on 14 April 2021
- 2021 (12 Apr): Conditional MCO announced in Johor for another 2 weeks; ending on 28 April 2021
- 2021 (27 Apr): Conditional MCO announced in Johor for another 2 weeks; ending on 17 May 2021
- 2021 (10 May): Nationwide four-week MCO announced for 12 May 2020 to 7 June 2020, overriding previous Conditional MCO
Updates on Cross-Border Bus Services
With the above measures, all Cross-Border Bus Services would be temporarily suspended from 18 March 2020.
| Service | 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
All SBS Transit Cross-Border Bus Services will no longer serve JB effective 1845hrs, 17 March 2020 until the Movement Control Order is lifted.
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
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
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.
Deleted information (Click to expand)
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
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
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
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
References
- Malaysia bars citizens from going overseas, foreigners from entering country for 2 weeks to curb COVID-19 spread: PM Muhyiddin – CNA
- Immigration D-G: No commuting between Malaysia and neighbouring nations – Malaymail
- Malaysia’s movement control order to go into ‘recovery phase’ until Aug 31: PM Muhyiddin – CNA
- Malaysia’s recovery movement control order extended to Dec 31, tourists still not allowed in: PM Muhyiddin – CNA
- COVID-19: Malaysia’s recovery movement control order extended again to Mar 31 – CNA
LTA should just scrap AC from operating AC7,Just renumbered as 870 and extend to Larkin and let the SBW-YIS winner operate
Is Changi Cove the former Changi Hospital, rumoured to be haunted?
No need to suspend bus 950. Just let it loop around Woodlands North MRT a and Woodlands train checkpoint, just like buses160 and 170. But I’m ok with the suspension of bus 170X.👍🏻
there is alot of bus which duplicate 950 leh.. What is the point to ask bus 950 to continue? there is 856 which also duplicate 950 all way to train checkpoint but also continue to woodlands north mrt. 950 only ply from Woodlands to JB leh.. but 160 ply from Jurong East while 170 ply from Queen Street.. If 160 kena suspended then all need to take MRT only no other duplicate bus to ply 160 route. If 170 kena suspended , there is alot of bus duplicate 170 up to only Upper Bukit Timah but need to change other bus to continue journey to Woodlands.
Where is your common sense?
Or maybe keep it like that forever. That means we have to depend on the CW’s and the TS’s. 170X withdraw and AC7 renumber as 867 looping at the same place as 160, 170 and 950. Operated by SMRT under Sembawang-Yishun bus package. Now the for services can use non-SPAD registered buses.