Singapore, Malaysia want 'more open borders' even if Omicron variant disrupts VTL expansion: PM Lee

SINGAPORE: Singapore and Malaysia want "more open borders" even if the brand new Omicron coronavirus variant disrupts plans to develop the vaccinated journey lane (VTL) between each international locations, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated on Monday (Nov 29).Mr Lee and his Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri Yaakob had been giving speeches on the Istana on the first day of the land and air VTL between Singapore and Malaysia. Mr Ismail Sabri is on his first official go to to Singapore.Mr Lee stated the purpose is to develop the land VTL to incorporate basic travellers from the center of December, making an allowance for the general public well being state of affairs. Currently, travellers should be residents, everlasting residents or long-term move holders of the nation they're getting into.Mr Ismail Sabri stated additionally they spoke about increasing the land VTL to incorporate bus companies on the Tuas Second Link, trains operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu, and "gradually" private automobiles similar to vehicles and bikes.The leaders additionally mentioned launching a sea VTL, presumably between Tanah Merah ferry terminal in Singapore and Desaru in Johor, and increasing the air VTL to incorporate locations similar to Penang, Langkawi, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu."Of course, all this is COVID-19 permitting. Because we are all anxiously waiting to see the Omicron variant (of) COVID-19 does, and how it will behave," Mr Lee stated."But even if Omicron disrupts these plants, our goal will still be to have more open borders between Singapore and Malaysia. And I'm quite confident that after some time, we will be able to make further progress."Countries have raced to include the brand new Omicron variant amid reviews it's probably more contagious than the present dominant Delta variant. Some have closed borders to overseas travellers or tightened restrictions on them.Malaysia's Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin stated on Monday that authorities detected a COVID-19 case via an on-arrival antigen fast take a look at performed on the Johor entry level of the Causeway.Authorities are confirming the constructive consequence utilizing a polymerase chain response take a look at, and assessing if passengers who travelled on the identical bus should be quarantined or subjected to different restrictions, Mr Khairy stated.