M’sian Foreign Minister: Negotiations for reopening border with Singapore a priority

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said on Thursday (Sept 23) that the government will continue negotiations with authorities in Singapore for the reopening of the border at Johor.

The reopening will be a gradual one, dependent on the pandemic situation on both sides, he said during a ministerial reply to the Royal Address in parliament.

“I understand that recently our Health Minister (Khairy Jamaluddin) had a telephone discussion with his Singapore counterpart Ong Ye Kung on the proposed reopening of the Malaysia-Singapore border.

We pray and hope this will be resolved as soon as possible,” he said.

Mr Saifuddin pointed out that since the pandemic is still ongoing in both countries, strict health regulations regarding cross-border movements will need to continue to be implemented.

He said that the “health and safety of the people, in addition to the current COVID-19 situation in both Malaysia and Singapore” is the main issue to be considered in negotiations, according to a CNA report.

The minister touched on the vaccination levels in Malaysia and Singapore, saying, “Even though the vaccination rates for both countries have more or less reached 80 per cent, the reopening of borders involves various parties and important factors to consider.

Nevertheless, it remains a priority for the Government to continue negotiating with Singapore regarding the gradual reopening of borders in phases, depending on the prevailing health situation,” he added.

Mr Saifuddin mentioned as well cross-border movement schemes such as the Daily Commuting Arrangement (DCA), which could facilitate the crossing of as many as 30,000 commuters daily.

Negotiations with Singapore may include such programmes, the Minister said.

The DCA necessitates that the government would release travel cases every ten days, which commuters may use for cross-border purposes thrice with that time.

This way, students and Malaysians who work in Singapore will be able to make use of passes issued under the DCA.

However, the Minister acknowledged that it is still at the “proposal stage” adding that there are “many things that still needed to be refined before it can be implemented”.  /TISG

Read also: S’pore-M’sia to resume talks on water rights after recovery from Covid

S’pore-M’sia to resume talks on water rights after recovery from Covid