BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The implementation of the air and land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) and recognition of the MySejahtera and BruHealth apps will benefit over 25,000 Malaysians based in Brunei.

       These were the main items decided during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s two-day official visit to Brunei that started on Monday.

       The agreement, which followed talks between Ismail Sabri and Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, will not only bring relief to the people concerned in both countries but also help revive the economic sector.

       There are more than 25,000 Malaysians living in Brunei, comprising professionals, students and those working there as well as Sarawakians, especially in the border areas, who commute to Brunei.

       Some of them have not returned to Malaysia for two years following the closure of the country’s borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       Describing his first official visit to Brunei as a great success, Ismail Sabri said a proposal was also made for the implementation of four flights a week between Brunei and Malaysia when the VTL is implemented.

       “My first official visit to Brunei Darussalam went well, it was very successful,” Ismail Sabri told a press conference at the end of his visit.

       There were also discussions on measures to enhance economic cooperation including trade and investment between both countries.

       “Malaysia and Brunei have a lot of potential in this field,” he said, adding that bilateral trade increased by 70.4% to RM8.03bil last year.

       He said border area trade was also significant with a value of RM832.40mil last year.

       “Apart from the participation of Petronas and several Malaysian companies in Malaysia-Brunei economic ties, I believe the cooperation in the field of SMEs, as well as the Sabah-Brunei and Sarawak-Brunei cooperation, has the potential to be enhanced,” he said.

       Both countries also agreed for the first meeting of the Joint Land Boundary Committee as agreed in 2011 at the senior official level be expedited.

       The two leaders also touched on the proposed Trans-Borneo Highway linking both countries as well as several regional issues, including the situation in Myanmar and the South China Sea, reported Bernama.

       The long-standing diplomatic relationship between Malaysia and Brunei is very special and opens up opportunities for cooperation in various fields including trade, health, defence and tourism, the Prime Minister added.

       The relationship continues through the Annual Leaders’ Consultation which provides an important platform for discussing issues of mutual interest.

       This year, Malaysia will host the 24th Annual Leaders’ Consultation in Kuala Lumpur and Ismail Sabri welcomed Brunei’s participation in the event.

       The Prime Minister said all agreements reached during his brief visit to Brunei reflected the strong commitment between both sides in bringing relations to a higher and stronger level.