KUALA LUMPUR – The Singapore government has decided to suspend its Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) arrangement with Malaysia for three months, starting February 1.
In a statement today, the republic’s Foreign Ministry said the same applies to Germany and South Korea, in view of the resurgence of Covid-19 cases worldwide.
“The government of Singapore regularly reviews its border measures to manage the risk of the importation and onward local transmission of Covid-19 from travellers.
“The government of Singapore will review the RGL arrangements at the end of the suspension period.”
It said travellers who have already been approved to enter Singapore under the RGL can continue to do so.
The government will continue to monitor the global situation, and adjust its border measures to manage the risks, it added.
“Any changes to border measures will be updated on the SafeTravel website. Travellers are advised to visit the website to check for the most updated border measures.”
Singapore introduced the RGL, which facilitates short-term essential business and official travel between the republic and selected countries or regions, and requires a strict and controlled itinerary for arrivals, due to the pandemic.
These travellers cannot use public transport except for private-hire cars and taxis, for example.
According to Singapore' Straits Times, the first such arrangement took effect on June 8 last year with China, in what was then called a “fast lane”.
Six provinces and municipalities in China – Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang – were included in the scheme, and Singapore continues to admit travellers from these places under the current arrangement.
The RGL allows either a company or government agency in Singapore to sponsor or apply for a prospective traveller to visit the country at least 14 days before their arrival.
Travellers must test negative for Covid-19 upon arrival, before following a 14-day itinerary submitted by their sponsor during the application process.
Other than the RGL, Singapore has two other travel arrangements for arrivals from several countries and territories.
The Air Travel Pass allows for quarantine to be done away with, provided visitors test negative for the coronavirus upon arrival.
Singaporeans and Malaysians can also apply to travel under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA), which allows those with long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country to periodically return home on short-term leave.
Both countries agreed to implement the PCA effective August 10 last year.
Under the arrangement, approved travellers must have stayed in their country of employment for at least 90 days before returning to their home country on short-term leave. – The Vibes, January 30, 2021
