GEORGE TOWN: Expanding the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) from Singapore or Medan in Indonesia to Penang will stimulate the local economy for post-pandemic recovery, says MCA vice-president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng.

       “With countries around the world easing restrictions and resuming economic activities, we must seize this golden opportunity to resume ties with others.

       “Thus linking Singapore and Penang via the VTL initiative will surely help the state in its economic recovery, especially the tourism sector,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Feb 16).

       Tan, who is also the state MCA liaison chairman, said Penang’s tourism and services sectors were its two most important strengths.

       The implementation of the VTL would be a crucial factor in the tourism and medical tourism sectors, besides stimulating local supporting industries, creating jobs and increasing the revenue of Penangites, he said.

       After VTL flights between Singapore and KLIA were initiated in November last year, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong announced that discussions for additional VTLs from Singapore to Penang and Sabah were ongoing and expected to be finalised in early March.

       He thanked Dr Wee for providing Penang with a promising path to post-pandemic recovery.

       “I hope that Malaysia can continue to form successful diplomatic and economic ties with our neighbours so that the Asean region can progress and prosper together in the future,” he said.