M’sia in talks with S’pore on compassionate travel

KLUANG: Malaysia is in talks with Singapore to standardise the SOP for cross-border travel for compassionate reasons.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said currently, Malaysians working in Singapore and who wished to return to the country for compassionate reasons had to put in an appeal.

“Right now, the SOP for compassionate travel for those with sickness or deaths in the family is on an ad hoc basis.

“We (Malaysia and Singapore) are negotiating for a standardised SOP for this group of people, ” said Hishammuddin.

The Sembrong MP was talking to reporters after visiting flood victims at the SMK Seri Sembrong temporary flood shelter here yesterday.

Asked whether Malaysians working in the island republic would be allowed to return upon showing proof of vaccination in the future, Hishammuddin said the matter was under the purview of the Health Ministry.

“It is not up to Wisma Putra to decide as we are unsure whether the vaccine used in Singapore is recognised in Malaysia or not.

“It will be decided by the Health Ministry and we will comply with their decision, ” he said.

The island republic rolled out its Covid-19 vaccination campaign on Dec 30.