Malaysia discussing travel bubbles known as ‘green lanes’ with Singapore and Brunei
- Australia and New Zealand have also been approached, Malaysian official says, as governments explore ways to safely reopen borders after coronavirus lockdowns
- Malaysia has recorded a total of 8,600 confirmed coronavirus cases and 121 deaths. Singapore has more than 42,000 confirmed cases and 26 deaths
Malaysia is in talks with Singapore and Brunei to create “green lanes” for less restricted travel, as governments around the world seek to reopen their borders without a resurgence in coronavirus cases.
The country is discussing guidelines with its two neighbours and has approached Australia and New Zealand also, said the Ministry of Health’s Director General Noor Hisham Abdullah, who oversees Malaysia’s Covid-19 response.
Other countries with no new cases for 28 days would be considered, he said.
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“This is in planning but we have not allowed any country yet,” Noor Hisham said. “It must be mutual, some issues must be ironed out by both countries before we can allow the green lane or green bubble.”
Malaysia’s Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced a partial reopening of the country’s borders last week, letting some foreign workers and medical tourists enter while allowing Malaysians to exit in an emergency or for work and study purposes.
Foreigners travelling from “green zone” countries Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand and Australia may not need to undergo 14-day home quarantine, though this would depend on any mutual agreement, Noor Hisham said.
Malaysia is in the recovery stage of its pandemic response as the daily number of new cases has dropped to single digits, following about three months of lockdown measures that have largely been eased. The country expects to start to see days without any new infections by mid-July, Noor Hisham said.
“It’s not impossible, but the public has to comply and keep to the guidelines,” he said.
Malaysia has recorded a total of 8,600 confirmed coronavirus cases and 121 deaths. Singapore has more than 42,000 confirmed cases and 26 deaths, while Brunei has recorded 141 infections and three deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
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Malaysia is looking at ways to allow visitors to resume normal activity sooner after they arrive. A company could bring in workers on urgent business by ensuring they travel straight from the airport to the workplace and don’t mix with the public, Noor Hisham said.
Medical tourists could also head straight for procedures, with hospitals responsible for imposing quarantine at their facilities.
“If we can handle the pandemic as soon as possible, then the economy can actually continue and livelihoods can continue,” Noor Hisham said.
