SINGAPORE – Singapore is optimistic that it will be able to launch the land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) with Malaysia “at the end of this month, close to the launch of the air VTL”, which is scheduled for November 29.
“It is also possible that we may be able to do so on the same day,” said the republic’s co-chair of its Multi-Ministry Taskforce on Covid-19, Gan Kim Yong, at a virtual press conference here today.
“But I must clarify and say that the details are still being worked out. We hope to be able to share the plans sometime next week, so that there will be time for Singaporeans to make the necessary arrangements,” he said.
Gan was responding to questions about, among others, the exact date of the reopening of the Johor Baru-Singapore land border, which will reportedly take place on November 29 – the same day as the air VTL.
Gan, who is also the minister for trade and industry, said that details on how Singaporeans can book tickets and make travel arrangements will probably be explained next week.
“We will start with a smaller number, a certain quota,” he added.
Gan said cross-border traffic will not likely return to pre-Covid-19 levels where “you have hundreds of thousands of people travelling, both directions, every day”.
The minister stressed that the first phase of the land VTL is likely to focus “on this group of people who need to meet with their family to be reunited”.
“We are likely to start with a smaller number. The priority is really to allow families who have been separated for a long time since the start of the Covid-19.
“Some are working here, wanting to reunite with their family members. Some Singaporeans are working in Malaysia (and) want to come back to Singapore to be with their family members,” he said.
He added: “We can think about expanding the scope to allow more people to travel.”
“I think it is also important for us to ensure that we can do it safely through tests and so on, to make sure this land VTL will continue to be able to allow citizens and permanent residents from both sides to travel safely,” he said.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad had on Thursday, said the VTL via the Causeway and Second Link will be opened simultaneously with the VTL between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport on November 29.
It was also reported the initial phase of the land VTL would be opened to those using public transport such as trains and buses, as it will be easier to manage, instead of allowing people to drive their own vehicles across the border. – Bernama, November 20, 2021
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