Singapore, Malaysia work to restore cross-border travel, recognise vaccine certs

[PUTRAJAYA] Singapore and Malaysia on Tuesday agreed to work towards recognising each other's vaccine certificates to facilitate cross-border travel in the future.

The two neighbouring countries also agreed to allow cross-border travel on compassionate grounds in the coming months.

At a meeting in Putrajaya on Tuesday, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his Malaysian counterpart Hishammuddin Tun Hussein agreed to progressively restore cross-border travel for other groups of travellers in addition to the existing Reciprocal Green Lane and the Periodic Commuting Arrangement.

In a joint statement, the two sides vowed to continue to make progress on their respective national vaccination programmes to vaccinate long-term residents, including Malaysians residing in Singapore and Singaporeans residing in Malaysia.

The two ministers had a constructive discussion on the national vaccination rollout plans that are underway in both countries and discussed how this could facilitate cross-border travel in the near future, the statement said.

The operational details of the Reciprocal Recognition of Vaccine Certificate, including the detailed requirements, health protocols and application process involved for entry and exit into Malaysia and Singapore will be further deliberated and finalised by both parties.

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"Hopefully by the time the two prime ministers meet, we will be able to make some announcements," Dr Balakrishnan told reporters.

The ministers also discussed the convening of the 10th Leaders' Retreat, which will be hosted by Singapore this year, and agreed to work towards restarting face-to-face bilateral engagements, the joint statement said.

The ministers also reviewed bilateral cooperation and looked forward to strengthening cooperation to stimulate recovery from the effects of the global pandemic, it added.

Both ministers reaffirmed "the excellent and longstanding relations between Malaysia and Singapore" and highlighted the importance of strengthening mutually-beneficial cooperation in overcoming common challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, including the resumption of people-to-people movements, while safeguarding the public health and safety of residents in both countries, the statement said.

Dr Balakrishnan, who is on a two-day visit to Malaysia, will also call on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry Azmin Ali, Senior Minister and Minister of Defence Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as well as Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Khairy Jamaluddin.

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