[Watch] Singaporeans Working In Malaysia? The Minister Who Said It Eight Years Ago Says He’s Being Proven Right

As evidence that the vision is materialising, Nga Kor Ming pointed to H&M relocating its Southeast Asian headquarters from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Gardenia shifting part of its production to Malaysia — while stressing that none of this is about drawing Singaporeans in as foreign labour, but rather the natural movement between two countries that depend on each other.

In Brief

Minister Nga Kor Ming revisited his eight-year-old speech urging Singaporeans to work in Malaysia, citing H&M and Gardenia relocations as proof.
Nga clarified Malaysia's goal is not to recruit Singaporeans as foreign labour, but to strengthen neighbourly and trade ties between both countries.
With the RTS Link launching in 2027, Nga now envisions Malaysians earning Singapore dollars whilst spending ringgit back home.

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A speech that raised eyebrows eight years ago is getting a second look — and this time, the minister who gave it says the numbers are starting to back him up.

Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming made waves when he called on Singaporeans to consider working in Malaysia, a statement that was met with scepticism at the time given the wide gap in wages and living standards between the two countries.

In an interview with Chinese news site Oriental Daily published recently, Nga said the remark was never meant as a slight.

Malaysia was in a period of rebuilding, he explained, and the speech was meant to push Malaysians to raise their own standards — not to poach workers from next door.

“This vision has gradually been turning into reality,” he said in Mandarin.

Not Foreign Labour — Friends

The DAP deputy chairman pointed to two examples: Swedish fashion retailer H&M shifting its Southeast Asian headquarters from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, and bread manufacturer Gardenia moving part of its production to Malaysia.

Still, Nga was careful to draw a line.

Malaysia’s goal, he said, is not to bring in Singaporeans as foreign labour.

The focus remains on strengthening ties between the two countries as neighbours and trade partners.

By the end of the interview, the vision Nga was selling had quietly shifted.

A Different Direction Now

Rather than Singaporeans heading south for work, he painted a picture of Malaysians crossing north — earning Singapore dollars and spending them back home.

“Next year, on Jan 1 when the RTS is done, the best situation is that we will have Malaysians who go to Singapore and earn Singapore dollars while spending Malaysian ringgit,” said Nga, who is also Teluk Intan MP.

This is currently the direction we are working towards — how good is that?

The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System, or RTS Link, is scheduled to begin operations in January, 2027, connecting Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore.

The remarks quickly drew reaction online, with some Singaporeans responding with dry humour.

“Are we really ready to wake up at 4AM to jam on the Causeway for RM?” one user wrote.