Singapore, Malaysia to set up ‘reciprocal green lane’ for business travellers, allow cross-border travel for some residents

SINGAPORE – Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to establish a Reciprocal Green Lane to allow cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Saturday (June 27).

Travellers will be subject to a set of Covid-19 prevention and public health measures, which are under discussion and will have to be mutually agreed upon by both countries, MFA added.

A telephone discussion between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday covered the establishment of a Periodic Commuting Arrangement, which would allow residents of both countries with long-term immigration passes to periodically return to their home countries for short-term leave.

“They will be able to return home for leave after spending at least three consecutive months in their country of work, and they will be allowed to re-enter their country of work after their home leave,” MFA said in its statement.

It added that Mr Lee and My Muhyiddin have tasked officials to work quickly on the operational details of the green lane and commuting agreement, and to continue discussions on other proposals to gradually facilitate more cross-border movement of people, “so as to ensure a stable recovery by both Singapore and Malaysia from the Covid-19 situation”.

During the call, Mr Lee had reiterated Singapore’s commitment to address the needs of Singaporeans and Malaysians who were previously commuting between both countries.  

Both leaders agreed that any bilateral arrangement would have to include mutually agreed public health protocols, to preserve the public health and safety of citizens on both sides, while taking into account the medical resources available in both countries, MFA said.