Johor MB: Malaysians working in S'pore may be included in phase two of vaccination programme

PONTIAN: The Johor government, together with the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti), will be creating a system to register Malaysians working in Singapore to be vaccinated, says Datuk Hasni Mohammad (pic).

The state Mentri Besar said the government was targeting to register at least 100,000 Malaysians who have jobs in the island republic.

"We expect to roll out vaccinations for Malaysian workers during the second phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation programme.

"It is estimated that there are about 400,000 Malaysians who travel daily for work there.

"But for the early stage, Mosti has put aside vaccines for some 100,000 people first," he said during a press conference after the Pertubuhan Peladang Negeri Johor Mentor-Mentee programme at Benut here on Sunday (March 14).

The government is expected to dispatch additional Covid-19 vaccines to Johor soon to inoculate between 50,000 and 100,000 Malaysian workers so that the border with Singapore can reopen by May or June.

The two borders between the two countries have been closed since March 18 last year.

Hasni also said that the state government had sent its proposal to Putrajaya to open up a third category for cross-border travel with Singapore.

The first two categories are the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA), while the third is the Daily Commuting Arrangement (DCA).

Malaysia and Singapore started the PCA and RGL on Aug 17 last year.

"As long as the two countries can agree on a common SOP and vaccination certificate, it will mean that Singaporeans who have been vaccinated can cross into Johor without needing to be quarantined.

"This also includes Malaysian who have been vaccinated there who want to return home," he added.

As of March 8, Singapore has vaccinated close to 400,000 people.

Of these, more than 220,000 have received their second dose and completed the full vaccination regime.