Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (left) after meeting frontliners at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex here on Wednesday. - THOMAS YONG/THE STAR
JOHOR BARU: The Johor government has urged the Federal Government to finetune the border travel standard operating procedure (SOP) with Singapore from time to time to reflect the on-ground situation.
Adviser to the Johor Mentri Besar, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, said the current situation is different now compared to when the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) were introduced in Aug 17.
“After more than a month’s implementation, it is time for the Federal Government to review and finetune where necessary.
“This includes shortening the quarantine period from the current 14 days, as well as adjusting the RGL and PCA schemes to ease Malaysians with Singapore permanent resident (PR) status to return to the country, ” he told a press conference after meeting frontliners at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex here on Wednesday (Sept 30).
He said the two border travel schemes sidelined the PRs, as they were not given the same treatment as those who could return to Malaysia under the PCA, which allows those with Singapore work permits to return here after testing negative for Covid-19.
“Under the schemes, the PR holders will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Johor at a cost of RM2,100.
“Malaysians in Singapore who want to return to the country for medical treatment also have to undergo quarantine upon arrival in Johor.
“This is a heavy burden for them in terms of cost and time so there is a need for the Federal Government to finetune the schemes to allow more ease of travel, in the safest way possible, ” said Tee.
Malaysia and Singapore introduced the RGL and PCA schemes on Aug 17 to address the needs of different groups to commute between both countries.
