Malaysia in VTL negotiations with 12 countries

• The government is conducting negotiations with 12 countries to implement Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL), the Foreign Ministry said. In a parliamentary written reply, the ministry said the countries were selected based on diplomatic relations and the need for cross-border travel.
• “As such, for the Asean region, the government is negotiating with Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. The other countries are Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Korea dan the United Kingdom,” the ministry said in reply to a question by Larry Sng (PBM-Julau).
• The ministry informed that there are three phases in the VTL negotiations, preliminary negotiations, comprehensive negotiations and implementation phases.
• Only Singapore is in the implementation phase, with VTL (air) and VTL (land) being implemented since 29 Nov 21.
• “The VTL that was previously suspended due to the Omicron wave has resumed on Jan 21 with a reduced quota of ticket sales of half of the original quota,” the ministry said.
• Meanwhile, comprehensive negotiations with Brunei, Indonesia and Korea were still ongoing. Eight other countries that agreed to the implementation of the VTL, Australia, China, India, Jepun, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Vietnam and Thailand are at the preliminary negotiations phase.
• “In conclusion, with the exception of VTL implemented with Singapore, the progress of negotiations over the reopening of borders with the other identified countries are rather slow due to the spread of Omicron.”

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