MALAYSIA, S’PORE AGREE ON EMERGENCY TRAVEL SCHEME
Death-and-critically ill emergency visits allowed from May 17
MALAYSIA and Singapore yesterday agreed on the procedures and entry requirements for Death and Critically Ill Emergency Visits between the two countries amid stricter border measures.
The arrangement will be implemented starting May 17.
This is according to a joint statement by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
and his Singapore counterpart, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
“This agreement provides a framework to facilitate travel between the two countries for compassionate and emergency reasons,” said the statement.
Details of the procedures and entry requirements will be released by the authorities of each country, namely Malaysia’s Immigration Department and Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, it said.
Hishammuddin arrived here on Saturday for a two-day visit at the invitation of Balakrishnan.
The visit was also to reciprocate Balakrishnan’s recent visit to Malaysia.
It is Hishammuddin’s first visit to Singapore as foreign minister.
According to the statement, the ministers expressed satisfaction that despite the challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, bilateral relations and cooperation remained intact and strong as demonstrated by the uninterrupted movement of goods between both countries.
The statement said the ministers held constructive discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation amid the pandemic.
They agreed to work towards the resumption of essential cross-border travel in a gradual and safe manner, it said.
The two ministers also welcomed the agreement reached between the Singapore Smart Nation and Digital Government Office and the Malaysia’s Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry on the mutual technical verification of health certificates issued in Singapore and Malaysia.
They agreed that both countries would continue to make progress on their national inoculation programmes to vaccinate long-term residents, including
Malaysians residing in Singapore, and Singaporeans in Malaysia.
The statement also said the ministers agreed to continue discussions on further border reopening measures, which should be premised on the Covid-19 situation in both countries, as well as the health and safety of the people in both countries.
They welcomed the resumption of in-person official exchanges between the two sides, following Balakrishnan’s visit to Kuala Lumpur in March and Hishammuddin’s current visit to Singapore.
Both foreign ministers agreed on the importance of convening the 10th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat in Singapore later this year, once the pandemic situation improves.
Following the Asean Leaders’ Meeting in Jakarta on April 24, the statement said, the ministers discussed the recent developments in Myanmar.
They agreed that it was important for Asean and its member states to continue playing a positive and constructive role in facilitating a durable and peaceful solution for the people of Myanmar by following up on the chairman’s statement and the “Five-Point Consensus”, it said.