Malaysians and Singaporeans who used to commute between the two nations on a daily basis before the COVID-19 outbreak led to a lockdown can look forward to crossing the land borders again soon, Foreign Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters today.
He said that both neighboring countries are looking forward to reopening the borders to the approximately 200,000 daily commuters, depending on the progress of the initial phase of the reopening that is currently reserved for business travelers and employment pass holders.
This next group of commuters mainly comprises of those who enter and leave either country on a daily basis for work or school.
“The next stage of the border opening refers to daily commuting of Malaysians and Singaporeans, back and forth between the two countries,” the 58-year-old said at the press conference earlier today.
It was announced yesterday that the land borders would reopen progressively on Aug. 10, starting with those traveling for official business purposes and long-term employment pass holders.
Travelers planning to cross the border from Aug. 10 are required to submit documents, including their itineraries, to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and undergo swab tests before they can enter either Singapore or Malaysia.
The exact date for when the 200,000 daily commuters can cross the land checkpoints is subject to the progress of the early stages of the reopening, he added.
“If we can manage the first and second categories, then we have a better chance of managing 200,000 people,” he said.
Other stories to check out:
Eat like a king again: Hotels introduce new ways to enjoy buffet spreads amid COVID-19
