PAGOH: Malaysia and Singapore will recognise each other's vaccination certificates to allow movement between the two countries, says National Recovery Council (NRC) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

       He said he had been in touch with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently and they discussed the importance of reopening the border to both countries.

       “Lee agreed but with the Covid-19 situation and vaccination in Malaysia and Singapore yet to be over, he was a bit cautious.

       “However, the relationship between our countries is very close, including for daily business affairs. When the border could not be opened, it became a major problem,” he added.

       Muhyiddin, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president, told this to the media after chairing a Johor Bersatu meeting at the party’s Pagoh division headquarters here on Friday (Sept 24).

       The former prime minister added that for now, only lorries and trailers were allowed to use the Causeway and Second Link if the driver and attendant had been vaccinated in Singapore.

       He said among the matters to be looked into where reopening the border was concerned included getting Singapore's approval and getting vaccination rates to a higher percentage.

       “We will also mutually recognise each other's vaccination certificates to allow movement between Malaysia and Singapore,” he added.

       Muyhiddin, who is Pagoh MP, added that border reopening, interdistrict and interstate travel were always raised by the government at meetings of any level and intended to include foreign travellers as well as citizens.

       “We will analyse data and science as well as obtain views from experts including from the Health Ministry, and consider border safety issues, under the Home Ministry.

       "All this will be taken into consideration but what is sure is, once the vaccination (rate) has increased and the country becomes much safer, all borders surrounding and in Malaysia will be opened,” he added.