Sarawak asks to be included in VTL deal with Singapore

KUCHING: Sarawak wants the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Malaysia and Singapore to be extended to the state.

State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the Sarawak government had made a request on this matter to the Federal Government.

"We are looking to arrange a VTL quickly with Singapore. This is an important route for us," he told reporters at the state legislative assembly here on Wednesday (Feb 16).

At present, the land and air VTL with Singapore is only with Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur.

Abdul Karim also welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob that Malaysia and Brunei had agreed in principle to implement air and land VTL between both countries.

"For the state government and the tourism industry, in particular, this is good news and we hope it can be implemented as quickly as possible.

"We believe this will bring in many visitors from Brunei to Miri," he said, noting that the highest number of visitors to Sarawak came from Brunei prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ismail Sabri said discussions with the Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in Bandar Seri Begawan on Tuesday (Feb 15) resulted in the agreement on the VTL.

He said a proposal was also made for four flights a week between Brunei and Malaysia once the VTL took effect.

Brunei shares land borders with Sarawak.