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A Malaysian who spent two days commuting between Johor Bahru and Singapore for a concert says the experience completely changed how he sees cross-border workers, and left him never wanting to do it again
In a recent Facebook post, which is gaining traction, a Malaysian shared what happened when he stopped envying cross-border workers and actually lived like one, if only for 48 hours.
As he was heading to Singapore for a concert, he turned the trip into a personal experiment: two days of daily commuting through the Causeway, navigating immigration queues, public transport, and peak-hour crowds.
What he found behind that glamorous "earning Singapore dollars" image was something he hadn't quite prepared for.
"I used to always envy those earning Singapore dollars. It wasn't until I personally 'entered the arena' and experienced it for myself that I realised, they aren't just making money; they are fighting for their lives!"
He said avoiding peak-hour crowds means starting the day before sunrise
To get ahead of the heavy traffic and long queues at the checkpoint, he quickly learned that commuters have little choice but to wake up extremely early.
"To avoid the peak-hour human crush and traffic jams, you have to force yourself out of bed to queue for the bus before the sun is even up or the roosters start crowing."
Even being slightly late makes a significant difference.
"If you hit 'snooze' and wake up just a few minutes late, congratulations, you'll run straight into 'Hell-level' peak hour. The queues are so long you literally can't see the end."
Going home isn't any easier, with many waiting until late at night to avoid the crowd
The situation repeats itself after work, with the same wall of people waiting on the other side of the day.
"Want to go home early after work to rest? Sorry lor, it's the same human crush."
Because of this, many commuters choose to linger in Singapore until the crowd thins, however long that takes.
"To avoid the crowd, many people have no choice but to hang around in Singapore until the middle of the night just to catch the late bus back to JB. Even though the buses come one after another, the crowd at the checkpoint feels like a bottomless pit."
He also pointed out how daily costs quietly shape how commuters get around
Beyond the physical grind, he got a firsthand lesson in the financial discipline that cross-border workers build into their daily routine.
"To save money in Singapore, if you walk, take the MRT, or catch a bus, you'd rather die than call a cab."
Ride-hailing during peak hours, he added, is practically off the table.
"Especially calling a Grab during peak hours; the fare will genuinely give you a heart attack!"
It is a discipline familiar to the tens of thousands of Malaysians who make the daily crossing via the Causeway and Second Link. With the ringgit-to-Singapore dollar exchange rate sitting at around 3.13, the financial draw is real, but so is the cost of getting there and back, in time, money, and energy.
File photo of people exiting the Woodlands Checkpoint at the Causeway.
Image via Hanidah Amin/CNAThe experience completely flipped how he once dreamed of working in Singapore
He admitted that working across the border was once a genuine aspiration, one that two days of living it out dismantled fairly quickly.
"Back in high school, I also dreamed of working in Singapore. After all, the exchange rate is already more than 3 now, who wouldn't be tempted? But after this two-day 'reality check,' my mindset has been completely flipped."
Even the unexpected physical toll surprised him.
"No wonder so many people working in Singapore stay slim. With this much walking and running through checkpoints every day, the exercise intensity is way over the limit!"
He was candid about his own limits.
"If I really had to live like this long-term, I'd probably surrender and throw in my resignation letter within two weeks."
He ended the post by expressing deep respect for those who do it every single day
Far from dismissing cross-border workers, the experience left him with a sharper appreciation for what they endure daily for years.
"To all the Malaysian workers who persist through rain or shine, travelling back and forth via the Causeway and Second Link for years, I truly respect you from the bottom of my heart!"
When a friend asked if he would still visit Singapore in the future, he said, "If there's a concert I want to see, I'll still go. But the prerequisite is that I will work extra hard to earn more money so I can just book a hotel and stay there.
"I never want to experience this 'Ironman' lifestyle of daily commuting ever again."
He was clear that the post reflected only his own experience, adding, "This short two-day experience just made me understand and admire all the cross-border commuters who persist for their livelihoods even more. You guys are truly working hard!"
