After a meeting over the Johor-Singapore Causeway yesterday, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to open up the border to nearly 2,500 travelers, five months after Malaysia closed its borders on March 18 due to COVID-19.
Malaysia’s Hishammuddin Hussein and Singapore’s Vivian Balakrishnan have decided that both countries will allow cross-border travel under the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA).
The RGL and PCA, which covers nearly 2,500 commuters, will allow cross-border travel for official, business, and work purposes between Malaysia and Singapore.
According to the joint statement released by the two ministers, applications for cross-border travel can be submitted to immigration departments from Aug. 10.
Cross-border travel between the Causeway and the Second Link is set to begin on Aug. 17.
“Eligible travelers will have to abide by the mutually agreed terms and prevailing public health measures in both countries,” the statement said.
The ministers are then expected to open up the border to more than 200,000 daily commuters between both nations.
“There is a lot we must do before allowing daily commuting for over 200,000 people. I hope everyone will be patient. We are doing our best,” Hishamuddin said in a Facebook post detailing the Causeway meet yesterday.
While Vivian understood that many Singaporeans are keen to travel to Malaysia again, he advised the public to be cautious amid the pandemic.
“While we are committed to addressing the needs of different groups of cross-border travelers, including those who wish to travel for compassionate reasons, the most vital question now is how to open up our borders in a safe and calibrated way,” a Facebook post by Vivian said.
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