Steady increase in people using Malaysia-Singapore VTL-Land

JOHOR BARU: There has been a steady increase in the number of people traveling between Malaysia and Singapore since the start of the land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL-Land) on Monday (Nov 29).

Johor public works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri said that so far, some 3,258 travellers have crossed the Causeway in the first three days of the VTL-Land.

"On the first day of VTL-Land, the number of travellers arriving at the Larkin Sentral Bus and Public Transportation Terminal here from the Queen Street Terminal in Singapore was 953, which is 66% of the 1,440 quota," he said

"The number of travellers from Singapore grew on the second day, with 1,037 or 72% while on Wednesday (Dec 1), the figure was 1,269 (88%)," added Mohd Solihan on Thursday (Dec 2).

However, he said the number of travellers heading into Singapore was low.

"For travellers using the VTL-Land from Malaysia to enter Singapore, the first day saw 220 people, which is 15% of the quota allowed," he said.

"The second day saw 188 travellers (13%) while on the third day, it rose to 291 or 20%," he added.

The initial stage of the VTL-Land scheme is limited to bus travel with a daily quota not exceeding 1,500 travellers.

Other modes of land transportation will be included in stages with the quota to be increased on a weekly basis.

The initiative is to facilitate quarantine-free, seamless cross-border movement integrating health protocols, security and immigration clearance.

Travellers allowed to take part in this scheme are Malaysian and Singaporean citizens and permanent residents as well as holders of Malaysia and Singapore Long-Term Passes.

Under the VTL, fully vaccinated travellers can travel between Singapore and Malaysia but are subject to Covid-19 tests in lieu of serving quarantine or a stay-home notice.

However on Wednesday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said travellers using the Malaysia-Singapore VTL by air or land would be required to perform a Covid-19 self-test on the third and seventh day after their arrival.

He also said the results will have to be reported through the MySejahtera app.

The creation of VTLs will also be postponed for countries that have reported Omicron cases or are on the ministry's temporary travel ban list, he added.