Singapore-Malaysia cross-border travel applications full for first 3 days of Aug 17 – 19

Applications for cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia under the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) schemes beginning 17 August have reached their maximum quota for the first three days.

Johor Immigration Department director Baharuddin Tahir said yesterday (13 Aug) that the Malaysian Immigration Department had received 180 RGL and 6,000 PCA applications for the first three days since Monday (10 Aug).

“As of this Thursday evening (13 Aug), the quota for Aug 17, 18 and 19 has been filled up. Under the RGL, we allow 400 people a week, so that means between 50 and 60 people per day. As for the PCA, it’s 2,000 people per day.

“The result of the application for cross-border travel will only be known a day before their travel dates,” he noted.

Mr Baharuddin told reporters this after briefing the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, regarding the reopening of the Malaysia-Singapore borders at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Bangunan Sultan Iskandar on the same day.

He said that to ensure smooth traffic flow, relevant departments and agencies – such as the police and the Johor Health Department – would deploy adequate personnel at the bus, pedestrian, car, and motorcycle lanes.

Johor State Health director Dr Aman Rabu, who was also present at the briefing, stated that the state health department is ready for the reopening of the border, adding that it will carry out COVID-19 screenings and tests.

On 26 July, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and his Singapore counterpart Dr Vivian Balakrishnan met at the halfway mark of the Causeway.

It was a symbolic gesture to mark the agreement between two countries to reopen their borders on 17 August after both nations closed their borders to curb the spread of COVID-19. It began with the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) by Malaysia on 18 March.

The RGL will enable cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes between both countries, while the PCA will allow Singapore and Malaysia residents – who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country – to enter that country for work.