Malaysians And Singaporeans Might Be Able To Travel To Each Other’s Countries Passport-Free!

Malaysia and Singapore have officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Johor Bahru, Johor, marking a significant step toward the establishment of a Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) aimed at fortifying the connectivity between the two regions.

Photo via Facebook (Anwar Ibrahim)

Emphasising their enduring relationship and shared commitment to bolstering economic collaboration, the two countries have undertaken to progress toward a comprehensive Agreement on the JS-SEZ. The MoU, signed by Malaysia's Economy Minister, Rafizi Ramli, and Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry, Gan Kim Yong, was witnessed by Malaysia's Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Anwar and Lee participated in an event commemorating the historic connection of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link between Malaysia and Singapore. Additionally, the leaders symbolically affirmed their dedication to the project's construction, which had achieved a notable progress level of 65% as of December 31, 2023, by jointly signing a plaque.

In a collaborative statement issued by Malaysia's Economy Ministry and Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister, both nations expressed their commitment to enhancing cross-border flows of goods and people while fostering a robust business ecosystem within the JS-SEZ to support investments.

Of particular interest is the exploration of initiatives, including the potential implementation of a passport-free clearance system at the border for both Malaysians and Singaporeans. As part of the envisioned measures leading to the JS-SEZ, the proposed passport-free clearance system envisions the use of QR codes on both sides to facilitate a more efficient clearance process at land checkpoints.

Looking ahead, this could pave the way for Malaysians and Singaporeans to traverse the Tebrau Straits without the need for passports, promoting smoother cross-border travel.