Singapore & Malaysia Will Allow Travel on Compassionate Grounds

Malaysia and Singapore will allow travel between both countries on compassionate grounds beginning May 17. This ruling comes after Covid-19 restrictions that disallowed most cross-border movement. 

However, due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in these countries, both governments will put other arrangements on hold. Some of the arrangements include an air travel bubble, short-term visits for business, and planned in-person meeting in Singapore between top leaders. 

According to Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, they will release the details of the travel arrangements on compassionate grounds later. Some of the measures include testing visitors for Covid-19 and the need for quarantine. 

The minister made the announcement together with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. Hishammuddin said that people on both sides could request to make trips across the border to stay with those who are critically ill or to attend funerals. 

Dr Balakrishinan said the move is crucial because of the extensive relationships between both countries. 

"When a family crisis occurs, people want to get together. And therefore, bearing in mind this very special close relationship between the people of Singapore and the people of Malaysia, it is necessary to have schemes like this," the minister said.

The Department of Immigration of Malaysia and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore will release the details of the procedures and entry requirements later. 

Due to a recent increase in cases in the community and the emergence of new clusters, Singapore has tightened measures. 

According to Hishammuddin, both foreign ministers also discussed mutual recognition of digital vaccine certificates to facilitate cross-border travel in the future.

The move to allow travel on compassionate grounds is the latest agreements between both countries to cope with Covid-19 effects. 

Here are other actions taken by both countries:

• The reciprocal green lane facilitating short-term essential business and official travel (suspended since February 2021).
• The periodic commuting arrangement.

In their joint statements, both ministers expressed their pleasure that despite the Covid-19's challenges, bilateral relations and cooperation stayed intact, as shown by the uninterrupted goods movement between Malaysia and Singapore. 

Dr Balakrishnan stated that both countries have never wholly closed their borders and still allow essential supply chains carrying food, medication and other supplies to move. 

According to him, it is due to the excellent relationship between Malaysia and Singapore, especially Johor, and why they have made these special arrangements. 

"Even as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to challenge both our countries, we will work very closely together, support each other, and our people-to-people ties will be protected and will be nurtured," the minister said.

Source: The Straits Times

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