Commuting to Singapore: Johorean Malaysians

Abstract

Dan is a machine operator at a Singaporean stationery manufacturing plant. He is originally from Kuching, Sarawak and told me that he was very reluctant to show up for his first day of work after completing his studies because of the low pay. He called up his elder brother, who had already been working in Singapore for a while, who told him to “buy a ticket and come to Singapore immediately”. Taking his brother’s advice and through that network, Dan got a job, initially planning to only work in Singapore for a year to “gain some experience” and to “see what it was like living in a big city like Singapore”. He ended up working in Singapore for ten years.