The Malaysian Insight

MALAYSIANS in Singapore are appealing for shorter and cheaper quarantine now that both countries are working to recognise each other’s Covid-19 vaccine certificates to facilitate cross-border travel.

Both governments last week said they were in talks to ease cross-border travel after borders were closed for more than a year to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Details of this arrangement, however, have not been finalised.

Malaysian Goh Yeek Wee, 40, who works as a manager, said the reopening of the border will be insignificant if  Singapore still mandates a 14-day quarantine.

“Most Malaysians working in Singapore have to bear the high quarantine fee so they are not too keen with the idea,” said Goh from Johor.

“So, if the plan is based on the PCA (Periodic Commuting Arrangement) and the changes are minimal, it makes no sense to take up the offer.

He also questioned if this travel plan is only applicable to those who have been vaccinated.

“It would be a bit unfair to apply to travel after the vaccination because, in Singapore, vaccinations are still being carried out according to age and the type of work,” he said.

The two governments had implemented the Reciprocal Green Lane (RCL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) travel arrangement which very few Malaysians working in Singapore applied for.

They said the main obstacles were the high quarantine fees and insufficient annual leave to go through the quarantine period.

They hope the new plan will solve these issues.

Steven Tee, 35, elevator maintenance worker echoed the same sentiment.

“Malaysians working here, including my friends, hope that this plan will announce a shorter quarantine period which will make it easier for everyone to get in and out,” said Tee who has not left Singapore since March 17 last year.

“As long as the quarantine fee is affordable, I believe many people will choose to go back and visit their families.

“The day I left home, my youngest child was only a month old. Today, he is one year old and is learning to walk and I am not there to see this.”

Another Malaysians, May Ng Bee Lian, 35, a beauty consultant, said she has no expectations for this new travel arrangement because the government often U-turned on its decisions.

“Whether applicants need to be quarantined back and forth and for how long are still unknown.

“Moreover, many government policies have changed in the past year, so I have no expectations for this plan,” Ng said.

She said she has focused on working hard and saving money in her time in Singapore.

On March 23, Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Singapore’s Vivian Balakrishnan met in Putrajaya where they vowed to continue carrying out their respective national vaccination programmes including for Malaysians living in Singapore and vice versa.

They also highlighted the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation in overcoming common challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, including the resumption of people-to-people movements, while maintaining public health and safety of the residents of both countries. – March 31, 2021.