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Land routes to Singapore reopen without need for quarantine

From April 1 onwards, those who are fully vaccinated will be able to travel without quarantine or taking Covid-19 tests.

Staff Writers
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Vehicles queue to enter the Woodlands checkpoint in Singapore from the Johor causeway in this file photo. Photo: AFP
Vehicles queue to enter the Woodlands checkpoint in Singapore from the Johor causeway in this file photo. Photo: AFP

From April 1 onwards, travellers who are fully vaccinated will be able to move between Malaysia and Singapore through land lanes without undergoing quarantine or Covid-19 tests, including before departure and upon arrival.

In a joint statement, the offices of the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore said the decision was made in line with the transition of both countries towards living with the Covid-19 virus.

“This will apply to all categories of travellers and transportation methods,” the statement said.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Malaysia would also reopen its borders to international travellers from April 1, marking another milestone in facilitating cross-border travel with Singapore, its nearest neighbour.

His Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong meanwhile said the announcement reflected the strong cooperation between the two countries throughout the pandemic, and would help both emerge stronger from the Covid-19 crisis.

The Malaysia-Singapore land border was closed in March 2020, as part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.

As many as 300,000 Malaysians had commuted to Singapore each day before the pandemic.

A Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) was launched between the two countries in November last year, through which fully vaccinated travellers were allowed to move to and fro subject to Covid-19 tests instead of serving quarantine or stay-home notices.

Singapore authorities said in February that they were discussing an expansion of the land VTL arrangement to include private vehicles and coaches.