Believe me, I am as expectant as everyone else, for Singapore to open it's borders with Malaysia, to establish the VTL (Vaccinated Travel Lane), that will allow me to visit my family and friends in Malaysia.
My Malaysian family and friends said to me, after Singapore opened up VTL to eight more countries, 'how could Singapore, have not included it's neighbour?'
In the Quran, there is the story of Moses, who thought that he was the most knowledgeable person, and God directed him to a person more knowledgeable. He asked that knowledgeable man, if he could follow and learn from him. The knowledgeable man said, Moses would not have patience with him. He would not have the patience, when he does not have a full grasp of the situation.
The people complaining about the Singapore-Malaysia borders situation truly reminded me of this.
So in order for us to have patience about this situation, we should try to understand it - why it is not an easy thing for Singapore to open it's borders to our closest and beloved neighbour, Malaysia.
1. When Singapore opens it's borders to other countries than Malaysia - these people are all arriving by AIR. Also, there are designated planes, that comes under this program, which means that the number of incoming visitors can be controlled by the number of incoming flights.
2. This will not be the case, when Singapore opens it's borders to Malaysia. As it was - Kuala Lumpur to Singapore was the 3rd busiest international AIR route in 2018. Nearly 4,500,000 incoming persons in that year - via AIR alone (according to Wikipedia).
The number of people coming to Singapore by LAND (JOHOR -> SINGAPORE) based on a 2012 report, was... 127,000,000 annually. 127 MILLION. (Wikipedia)
3. VTL does not mean that the incoming people just go through immigration like we do previously. With VTL, incoming people must take PCR test upon entry.
127 million translates to an average of 320,000 people a day - queuing for PCR tests. The situation at the immigration will be crazy! Worse than Chinese New year jams! Singapore immigration must prepare for so many personnel to do this all day long. If previously, just having to stamp/scan your passport, we sometimes have to queue 1-3 hours, imagine if you also need to take PCR.
4. Then you say, if that is so, open the AIR route only. However, you can already imagine the same people and press complaining - why open to people from Kuala Lumpur only and not opened to your NEXT DOOR neighbour?
5. The government has to prepare for AIR and LAND scenarios, and I'm sure apart from that, they also have to think of how to manage the exponential increase in COVID19 cases in Singapore due to influx of thousands of people into Singapore? Even currently, while Singapore is slowly adjusting and putting in place the steps to manage positive COVID19 cases in Singapore - the people are already complaining that MOH reaction is slow, they are not efficient blah blah blah. Do we think we can do a much better job? Do we think they are superhumans?
I can see how at this time, Singapore is not ready to manage the kind of numbers, if Singapore were to open it's borders by VTL to Malaysia. It's almost impossible to apply the PCR for land border crossings. Perhaps a special arrangement has to be considered for Malaysians, like no PCR test required at all upon entry.
But if we do this - will the Singapore health system be ready for the consequences - managing inevitable COVID19 cases increment within Singapore?
People, it's not an easy decision to make and steps to take.
Let's have patience and pray for the best. I'm sure, they are doing their best - there are no ill-intentions here, only precautions.
I also hope the press, instead of inciting the readers towards negative thoughts, should work with the authorities to educate the public about the possible reasons behind such decisions.
May God ease our affairs. I miss you Malaysia.
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