JOHOR BAHRU (Johor, Malaysia), Oct 5 (NNN-Bernama) — The hike in COVID-19 cases in Singapore will not hinder talks between the republic and Malaysia on cross-border movements between the two countries.
Chief Minister of Malaysia’s southern Johor state, Hasni Mohammad, said this was because both countries were making preparatory measures, including Singapore which is supplying every family with a COVID-19 test kit and mulling giving the third COVID-19 vaccine dose.
“The increase in COVID-19 cases in Singapore is not seen as an obstacle to our effort to discuss (reopening the borders). Previously, the Malaysia-Singapore Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) schemes were postponed because we were looking for a way to combat COVID-19.
“But, we already have vaccines and Singapore has also been thinking about a third dose and so on… so it will not be an obstacle,” he told a media conference here, Monday.
On Oct 2, Bernama reported that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had told Hasni to hold talks with Singapore on cross-border movement, especially for Malaysians commuting there for work.
Meanwhile, Hasni said the technical committee on the opening of the Malaysia-Singapore border had agreed with the standard operating procedure (SOP) suggested by the state government.
He said the Ministry of Health, which functioned as a secretariat to the senior minister line-up, would set the date for the tabling of the SOP before further discussions are held with Singapore.
— NNN-BERNAMA