Malaysia, Singapore agree on new cross-border travelling measures

Malaysia and Singapore agreed to implement the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) with a targeted implementation date of Aug 10 to address the needs of different groups of cross-border travellers between the countries.

This was announced today in a joint statement by Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan.

Eligible travellers for both schemes will have to abide by the prevailing Covid-19 prevention and public health measures mutually agreed upon by both countries, which include undergoing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab tests, it said. 

The RGL will enable cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes between both countries.

"Travellers will also be expected to submit to the relevant authorities of the receiving country a controlled itinerary and adhere to it during their visit," they said.

The PCA will allow Singapore and Malaysia residents with long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country, to enter 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 their job for at least another three consecutive months," they added.

The statement said that Malaysia and Singapore agreed to publish the requirements, health protocols, and application process involved for entry and exit into both countries, 10 days prior to their implementation of the RGL and PCA.

The countries' officials are working expeditiously towards the targeted implementation of RGL and PCA on Aug 10, they added. 

"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."

Malaysia and Singapore will also cooperate to develop other appropriate schemes for the cross-border movement of people including a daily cross-border commuting proposal for work purposes while taking into account the required health protocols and available medical resources in both countries.

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

- Bernama