Malaysia-Singapore land VTL to be launched on Nov 29, starting with 1,500 travellers per day

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 24): The governments of Malaysia and Singapore will be launching the vaccinated travel lane for land (VTL-Land) next Monday (Nov 29), to coincide with the VTL-Air, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The VTL-Land will begin with an initial quota of 1,500 daily travellers at the beginning stage, with weekly increments to follow.

"The Singapore-bound designated VTL-Land bus services will use Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal (Larkin Sentral) as the boarding and disembarkation point in Malaysia, [and] Queen Street Terminal (QST) as the boarding and disembarkation point in Singapore.

“Travellers allowed to take part in the VTL-Land are Malaysia and Singapore citizens and permanent residents as well as holders of Malaysia and Singapore Long-term Pass.

“The travellers must be fully vaccinated and for unvaccinated children below the age of 12, they must be accompanied by vaccinated parents or guardians,” it said.

The PMO noted eligible travellers will be subjected to Covid-19 testing and further health requirements determined by the respective country.

Currently, it said the VTL-Land will be limited to only bus transportation as a control mechanism and other modes of transportation will be included in stages.

The PMO added that travellers coming into Malaysia using the VTL-Land need to register at https://mysafetravel.gov.my/ while travellers from Malaysia to Singapore are required to register at https://go.gov.sg/vtl-portal.

Registration is compulsory before any purchase of tickets is made. Details on the VTL-Land requirements can be found on https://www.miti.gov.my and https://www.safetravel.ica.gov.sg/.

According to the PMO, the adult population in both countries who had been fully vaccinated have exceeded 95%, enabling Malaysia and Singapore to reopen the land border in a gradual, safe, systematic, and sustainable manner.

The PMO said the VTL-Land initiative aims to facilitate quarantine-free, seamless cross-border movement integrating health protocol, security, and immigration clearance.

"Apart from workers, the VTL-Land will provide the opportunity for Malaysians and Singaporeans on both sides of the Causeway who have been separated from their families due to the Covid-19 pandemic, to be reunited with their loved ones," it said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has welcomed that the VTL-Land with Singapore will reunite families and friends across the causeway.

“Thank you to my counterpart Mr Ong Ye Kung (Minister for Health of Singapore) for the decisive, smooth & friendly discussions we have had to make this happen.

“Thank you [also] to everyone involved in the opening of a land VTL with Singapore. Special mention to deputy secretary-general (industry) of the International Trade and Industry Ministry Datuk Seri Norazman Ayob for leading the team that negotiated the opening of one of our most important economic borders,” he said in a series of tweets.

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