Malaysia and Singapore are working toward reciprocal vaccination certification as the Southeast Asian neighbors plan to restore cross-border travel.
Operational details, including the application process involved for entry and exit between the two nations will be discussed further, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his Malaysian counterpart Hishammudin Tun Hussein said in a joint statement.
Malaysia and Singapore join countries backing vaccine certificates as a way to restart travel while also preventing a surge in the spread of the coronavirus. Indonesia has added Batam and Bintan to a travel corridor arrangement with Singapore that would see overseas visitors back in the resort islands from late April, while Thailand has decided to shorten a mandatory quarantine period for foreign travelers from April.
Singapore and Malaysia also reaffirmed their commitment to continue to vaccinate long-term residents, including Malaysians residing in Singapore and Singaporeans residing in Malaysia, according to the statement on Tuesday.
The countries also agreed to allow “compassionate travel” for citizens with relatives on either side of the border and hope to operationalize the plan in April, Balakrishan said.
Singapore has invited Malaysia Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for an official visit, and more measures may be announced after meeting of the two leaders, he added.
