Two minutes before the countdown, people could be seen walking from the Singapore Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex towards the Malaysian side, as relatives and friends broke into cheers.

Shouts of “Welcome back” and “Selamat kembali” could be heard from those gathered at a mall near the Johor side of the Causeway as fireworks were let off in the background.

The Causeway and the second link, which had been empty for most part of the pandemic, have come alive again after two years with the reopening of the country’s borders from today.

Vehicles coming from the direction of Singapore sounded their horns and some passengers were seen clapping.

Mohd Fauzan Hafizi Rosli, 33, who has been working as a technician in Singapore for the past four years, shed tears of joy when asked how he felt about returning home.

The Kota Tinggi native said he was “simply overjoyed” to finally be able to meet his wife and children after two years.

“My wife does not know I am coming back (so early). I hope to give her a surprise. It has been such a long time since I last saw my family.

“Thanks to the governments of Malaysia and Singapore for making the border opening a success,” he said at the CIQ at Sultan Abu Bakar Complex in Gelang Patah here.