KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Travel across the causeway connecting Malaysia and Singapore, as well as an air corridor, opened yesterday, after disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bridge link, or causeway, was one of the busiest crossing points in the world, with hundreds of thousands from both countries crossing the link daily, before the pandemic.
Malaysian PM, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is on an official visit to Singapore, stopped by the causeway, as part of a ceremony to mark its reopening under the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL).
“As close, immediate neighbours, the deep relation between Malaysia and Singapore is of immense importance to both sides. More active multilevel engagements and much stronger cooperation is certainly the way forward for our two countries,” he told a joint press conference, with Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong.
“This is crucial also for our contact of cooperation in undertaking effective and meaningful recovery efforts, so that our countries will come stronger, following the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said, talks are underway to increase the number of crossing points, including from the second bridge link, and to allow private vehicles to make the trip.
Currently travellers may only take special busses to make the land crossing, while air travellers are confined to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Singapore’s Changi Airport.
Travel under the VTL will see quarantine waived, for fully vaccinated individuals, with other standard operating procedures in place, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.– NNN-BERNAMA