PETALING JAYA: The sale of airline and bus tickets under the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Malaysia and Singapore have resumed fully with immediate effect, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

       “Based on current risk evaluation and with approval from the Health Ministry, the Transport Ministry wishes to announce that the sale of bus and airline tickets under the VTL between Malaysia and Singapore will fully resumed with 100% seating capacity for both land and air travel with immediate effect,” he said in a press statement on Wednesday (Feb 16).

       The Transport Minister noted that air tickets under VTL will allow travel between both countries to resume immediately while bus tickets will be for travel starting Feb 22.

       Dr Wee said that the VTL initiative had successfully allowed more international travel and has boosted the tourism sector while contributing to the economic revival effort.

       “As of Feb 14 this year, a total of 171,583 travelers from Singapore have benefited from this initiative for both air and land travel options.

       “We hope that the VTL will benefit the people and revitalise the economies of both nations,” he added.

       Meanwhile, Dr Wee said that Malaysia and Singapore are currently in advanced discussions to expand the VTL by air to Penang and Kota Kinabalu.

       “We look forward to launching these services soon.

       “In this regard, the Transport Ministry together with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad are in the midst of preparing the necessary Covid-19 screening facilities and other related facilities to make these new VTL initiatives a success,” he said.

       The VTL programme was suspended between Dec 23 last year and Jan 20 this year due to a global rise in Omicron variant cases.

       The programme resumed on Jan 21 this year but with a 50% reduction in plane and bus capacity quota.