A Malaysian woman’s TikTok video documenting her daily commute from Johor Bahru to Singapore has drawn attention to a routine familiar to hundreds of thousands of Malaysians who cross the border for work each day.
Posted six days ago by TikTok user @/neykristin, the video lays out her journey step by step, showing how she travels to Singapore for work every weekday — a routine she has kept up for almost two years.
Leaving Before Sunrise
The video begins before 6am.
She is seen walking from her home while it is still dark and quiet, making her way towards the Johor Bahru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex.
The route takes her under the R&F bridge and up multiple stairways before she reaches the checkpoint.
There is no rush shown, indicating familiarity. Each step appears rehearsed.
Long Queues, Repeated Daily
After clearing passport checks, she joins a long queue inside the CIQ.
In the video, the line loops repeatedly. She notes that she has already grown used to it — a statement that reflects routine rather than frustration. Eventually, she boards a Causeway Link (CW) bus.
From there, the commute continues through Woodlands Checkpoint before another CW bus ride towards Kranji.
She reaches Kranji before 7.30am on that particular day, noting that the timing was quicker as many people were on leave for the holidays.
By then, most offices are only beginning to stir.
Habits That Keep the Commute Moving
Rather than describing the commute as exhausting, the video shows how repetition turns into habit.
Walking instead of driving helps avoid traffic bottlenecks. Queue patterns are familiar enough to be navigated without hesitation. Travel timing is adjusted based on holidays and crowd levels.
Over time, such routines become the norm for many cross-border workers.
Why Many Malaysians Choose Singapore
According to NST, the decision to work in Singapore is often influenced by financial considerations.
Due to increased wages and the strength of the Singapore dollar, which raises their discretionary income, many Malaysians feel more financially flexible.
As long as living expenditures are appropriately managed, industry analysts claim that workers in Singapore can save more quickly when their wages are converted to ringgit.
Applications Surge as Opportunities Grow
Interest in Singapore jobs has been rising steadily. According to NST, a recruitment agency reported that job applications from Malaysians between December 2023 and January 2024 doubled compared to the same period in 2022 and 2023.
Another firm, said job postings in the first quarter of 2024 received up to 30 per cent more Malaysian applicants year-on-year.
Malaysians are employed across a wide range of sectors in Singapore, from manufacturing, construction and healthcare to engineering, IT and professional services. JobStreet Malaysia noted that human resources and consulting roles attracted the most interest, while IT roles saw the sharpest increase in applications in 2024.
Economists estimate that between 300,000 and 400,000 Malaysians currently work in Singapore, spanning both low-wage and high-skill positions.
Walking the Causeway, Risks and All
Recently, the reality of cross-border commutes have shed light on safety. Earlier this month, as reported by The Sun Malaysia, a viral post on Reddit highlighted individuals crossing the Causeway by walking due to long bus queues.
They were observed in the video waiting for breaks in traffic to cross the road. The Causeway, often described as the busiest international border crossing in the world, reportedly lacks a continuous pedestrian walkway, and thus sees such incidents highighted online.
More Than One Person’s Story
@neykristin’s TikTok video captures a single journey among thousands of others; painting a picture of the broader pattern of movement across the border.
Countless Malaysians begin their journeys in the dark, queue through checkpoints, switch buses, and arrive at work early out of necessity.
Watch the video here:
@neykristin I travel everyday to singapore for work, almost 2 years of this tiring, hectic commute life. Thank you sgd for getting what I want 😂💪🏻 #jbsingapore #jbciq #woodlandscheckpoint #workinsingapore
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