Malaysia and Thailand agreed that discussions will be intensified to reopen the border soon through the Vaccine Travel Route (VTL) scheme for Malaysia or Test & Go for Thailand. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, as reported by Metro, that he had discussed with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha the need to re-allow cross-border activities between the two countries.
According to him, for a start, it can be implemented with VTL-Air between Kuala Lumpur and Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) for travellers who are fully vaccinated. He elaborated,
“We will also consider adding other destinations in the future. The VTL scheme will also be expanded to open the land border through Bukit Kayu Hitam-Sadao and include all Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) Complexes in the northern Peninsula and southern Thailand as well as the VTL-Laut between Langkawi-Satun.”
Ismail Sabri also mentioned this will certainly be able to help restore economic and business networks between the two parties, especially the tourism sector. Moreover, both leaders have also discussed the Malaysia-Thailand connectivity project, namely the construction of the Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS Complex Road Line and Sadao CIQ.
Besides that, the construction of a second friendship bridge across Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok, and a new bridge for Pengkalan Kubor-Tak Bai is expedited. He said they both agreed that the relevant agencies could expedite the construction of the project for the smooth movement of people and goods between the two countries.
Both of them reiterated their commitment to enhancing Malaysia-Thailand cooperation under the IMT-GT framework especially, through the implementation of the Physical Connectivity Project (PCP) and the importance of cooperation in Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Tourism and Halal Products and Services to realize the IMT-GT Vision 2036.
