When Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali in June 2026 reiterated his earlier suggestion that more Singaporeans are crossing the Causeway to work in Malaysia, Doreen Sim, a Singaporean who works in Johor Bahru, received skeptical messages from friends. Sim, who has worked in Malaysia for two years, told CNA that while she earns less than in Singapore, her cost of living is significantly lower, allowing her to save more.
According to a 2025 report by the Singapore Department of Statistics, about 1,800 Singaporeans were employed in Malaysia as of 2024, a small fraction of the 350,000 Malaysians working in Singapore. Experts note that the trend is driven by factors like lower housing costs in Johor Bahru and the flexibility of remote work, but it remains niche.
Sim, 34, a marketing executive, said she pays about S$800 (RM2,800) monthly for a two-bedroom apartment in Johor Bahru, compared to S$2,000 in Singapore. However, she faces longer commute times and limited social networks. “It’s a trade-off,” she said. “I save money, but I miss the convenience of living in Singapore.”
Economist Dr. Yeah Kim Leng of Sunway University noted that while the number of Singaporeans working in Malaysia is small, it could grow if Johor’s economic development continues. “The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, if implemented, might attract more Singaporeans,” he said. However, he cautioned that wage differentials remain a barrier, as median salaries in Malaysia are about one-third of Singapore’s.
