Malaysia-Singapore Border Reopening August 10

Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to implement Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) travel, enabling citizens from both countries to cross the border for work or official purposes, starting Aug 10.

Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and his Singaporean counterpart Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said the two schemes are intended to address the needs of various groups of cross-border travellers in Malaysia and Singapore.

"The RGL scheme will enable cross-border travels for essential business and official purposes between both countries. Eligible travellers will have to abide by prevailing Covid-19 prevention and public health measures mutually agreed upon by both countries, including undergoing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab tests.

"They will also be expected to submit to the relevant authorities of the receiving country a controlled itinerary and adhere to this controlled itinerary during their visit," they said in a joint statement.

According to them, the PCA scheme would allow residents of both countries, who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country, to enter that country for work.

"After at least three consecutive months in their country of work, they may return to their home country for short-term home leave, and thereafter, re-enter their country of work to continue working for at least another three consecutive months.

"These travellers will also have to abide by the prevailing Covid-19 prevention and public health measures mutually agreed on by both countries," they said.

The two ministers said officials of both countries are working hard towards the targeted implementation date of the two schemes in August.

"This will give the opportunity for the relevant agencies of both governments to continue their consultation to finalise the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the two initiatives."

Hishammuddin and Balakrishnan said acknowledging the strong interest of citizens in Malaysia and Singapore, and to facilitate fluid cross-border flows, the two governments had agreed to announce the requirements, health protocols, and application process involved for entry and exit into Malaysia and Singapore, 10 days prior to their implementation of the RGL and PCA.

According to them, Malaysia and Singapore are developing other relevant schemes for the cross-border movement of people, which includes a daily cross-border commuting plan for work purposes for travellers from both countries while taking into account the expected health protocols and available medical resources in both countries to ensure the safety of the citizens of both sides.

"This will allow both sides to progressively restore cross-border people-to-people interaction and economic exchanges."

Daily crossing limited to 2,000 people

Only 2,000 Malaysians and Singaporeans are allowed to cross daily under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) as both countries gradually reopen their border to each other in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the same time, under the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) category, only 400 Malaysians and Singaporeans can travel to and from between the two countries a week.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who announced this at a press conference at Parliament yesterday, said the agreement on RGL and PCA would be implemented on Aug 10 with the standard operating procedure finalised before that. Both categories are for travel via the Johor Causeway and the Second Link.

PCA is for the daily commute of Malaysians and Singaporeans with long-term work permits while RGL is restricted to Malaysians and Singaporeans on official travel and important business matters only.

Source: NST

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