M’sia & S’pore Agree to Allow Selected Groups of Travellers to Cross Borders

It was on 23 June when Singapore Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, expressed that it will not be possible for people from Malaysia to enter Singapore without Covid-19 screening and that their government would want to take a “step-by-step” approach on opening the Malaysia-Singapore border.

The latest update of this particular news revealed that Malaysia and Singapore had agreed to allow some residents and business travellers to travel across the border. According to CNA, the people who will be allowed to travel include the residents who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes.

This piece of information was a result of a discussion between Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday (26 June) over a phone call.

Both leaders had agreed to establish a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and a Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) to cater to the needs of different groups that wish to travel across the border. It was reported that the RGL will facilitate cross-border travel for “essential business” as well as “official purposes” between both countries.

The PCA is meant for the residents of Malaysia and Singapore who hold long-term work or business immigration passes to return to their home countries. Considering that many citizens had been separated from their families across the border, they will most probably be able to return home soon.

“They will be able to return home for leave after spending at least three consecutive months in their country of work, and they will be allowed to re-enter their country of work after their home leave,” said the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Daily cross-border travelling had been severely disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which then forced both countries to go into lockdown. Both Prime Ministers said that any agreement revolving both sides would need to include public health protocols to ensure the safety and health of citizens on both countries.

So far, the public had not been updated on when the borders will be open specifically for these groups of people.

We can’t wait to hear the good news for people from both neighbouring countries to go back home!

Also read: Singapore Has Oversupply Of Eggs That 250,000 Had To Be Thrown Away