By Nur Ashikin Louis
ASAJAYA, Nov 12: Sarawak needs reciprocated arrangement with Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia prior to opening its borders, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He was responding to a reporter’s query whether Sarawak would open its borders to both neighbouring countries as an initial step in rejuvenating the State’s tourism industry.
“That requires reciprocated arrangement with Brunei and Indonesia. If we open our borders and Brunei has yet to do the same, then it would not be a successful initiative. It has to be two-way.
“I hope the Malaysian government would be able to establish a travel bubble here (in Sarawak) so that we could also have a travel corridor with other places,” he said when presenting compensation cheques for land whitening and the expansion of the Islamic cemetery and infrastructure and telecommunication development in Kampung Sambir, Asajaya today.
Yesterday, National Recovery Council (NRP) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin proposed to the government for the country’s borders to be opened to foreigners by Jan 1, 2022.
This came following reports that Malaysia will be opening up a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Changi Airport, and a Vaccinated Travel Corridor (VTC) between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.
The VTL between KLIA and Changi Airport, which is expected to take effect on Nov 29, will enable fully-vaccinated Malaysians and Singaporeans to travel between the two countries without the need to observe any quarantine. — DayakDaily
