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Decline in Singaporean shoppers in Johor? No such thing, says Chief Minister

JOHOR BARU — Johor Chief Minister Osman Sapian has denied there has been a drop in Singaporeans visiting the state due to the tense maritime and airspace standoff.

Mr Osman maintains there has been no drop in Singaporeans visiting Johor due to ongoing bilateral disputes.

Mr Osman maintains there has been no drop in Singaporeans visiting Johor due to ongoing bilateral disputes.

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JOHOR BARU — Johor Chief Minister Osman Sapian has denied there has been a drop in Singaporeans visiting the state due to the tense maritime and airspace standoff.

“I believe there is no decline in Singaporeans visiting Johor despite reports of the cancelled tours.

“I share State Women and Tourism Development Committee chairman Liow Cai Tung’s view yesterday that we (Johor) continue to receive tourists from Singapore,” he said at an event on Thursday (Jan 17).

Mr Osman said he believes that the issue has had a minimal impact on Johor.

His brief comment was in response to a Sin Chew Daily report on Tuesday (Jan 15) claiming that Singapore tourists had cancelled their planned visits to Johor due to rising tensions between both countries.

On Wednesday (Jan 16), Ms Liow maintained that Johor was still receiving tourists from Singapore, although some of them are said to have cancelled their visits here to shop, ahead of the Chinese New Year celebration.

She said Malaysia and Singapore continue to enjoy close ties, and maintain mutual harmony with each other.

“We share the same cultural heritage and social relations and I do not see how constructive discussion between the two countries will affect the good relations between the two neighbours,” said Ms Liow in a statement on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Malaysian newspaper Sin Chew Daily reported that the recent tensions between Malaysia and Singapore led to the cancellation of several day tours to Johor.

It said groups of Singaporeans who organised such shopping trips expressed concern over the strained relations between both countries, and had decided to cancel the day trips to avoid unexpected complications. MALAY MAIL

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