Malaysia, Singapore to allow emergency visits from May 17

 

This agreement provides a framework to facilitate travel between the two countries on compassionate grounds and emergency reasons. (Bernama pic)

SINGAPORE: Malaysia and Singapore today agreed on the procedures and entry requirements for Death and Critically Ill Emergency Visits between the two countries amid stricter border measures.

The arrangement will be implemented from May 17.

This is according to a joint statement by foreign minister Hishammuddin Hussein and his Singapore counterpart, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

“This agreement provides a framework to facilitate travel between the two countries on compassionate grounds and emergency reasons,” said the statement.

Details of the procedures and entry requirements will be released by the respective authorities of each country, namely the Immigration Department of Malaysia and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore, it said.

Hishammuddin arrived here yesterday for a two-day working visit.

The visit is at the invitation of Balakrishnan and to reciprocate his recent working visit to Malaysia. It is Hishammuddin’s first working visit to Singapore as foreign minister.

According to the statement, the ministers expressed satisfaction that despite the challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, bilateral relations and cooperation remained intact and strong, as demonstrated by the uninterrupted movement of goods between both countries.

The statement said the ministers had constructive discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

They agreed to work towards the resumption of essential cross-border travel in a gradual and safe manner, it said.

The two ministers also welcomed the agreement reached by the Singapore Smart Nation and Digital Government Office and the Malaysian science, technology and innovation ministry on the mutual technical verification of health certificates issued in Singapore and Malaysia.

They agreed that both countries would 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 statement also said the ministers agreed to continue discussions on further border reopening measures. - FMT