Written Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran to Parliamentary Question on Appointing More Bus Operators to Support Vaccinated Travel Lane Initiative between Malaysia and Singapore

Mr Don Wee asked the Minister for Transport whether more bus operators can be appointed to support the Vaccinated Travel Lane (Land) initiative between Malaysia and Singapore.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     As part of the effort to restore connectivity between Singapore and Malaysia, the Vaccinated Travel Lane Land (VTL-Land) was launched on 29 November 2021. The VTL-Land has enabled residents and workers on both sides of the Causeway to reunite with their families, while taking into consideration the public health situation in both countries.

2.     Transtar Travel Pte Ltd (Transtar) and Handal Indah Sdn Bhd (also known as Causeway Link) were appointed by Singapore and Malaysia respectively to operate VTL-Land bus services as a start.

3.     Transtar was a suitable choice as the Singapore-designated bus operator to start off the implementation of the VTL-Land bus service, as it has more than 20 years of experience in operating cross-border bus services between Singapore and Malaysia. It also has a ready online system for travellers to purchase bus tickets, operation facilities at Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal and a fleet of buses that could meet the operational requirements for the VTL-Land.

4.     Singapore and Malaysia will continue to monitor the situation and review the transport options under VTL-Land, including potentially appointing more bus operators to operate VTL-Land bus services.