GEORGE TOWN: Penang industrialists are urging the government to extend the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) approach for travel between Singapore and the Penang International Airport (PIA).
The Free Industrial Zone, Penang, Companies' Association (Frepenca) said this was necessary as member companies' businesses were bouncing back as pandemic restrictions receded, and international competition for new business was strong.
"Opening a VTL gateway to the north of Malaysia from Singapore will expand customer engagement and also enable supplier support for high-technology products and technologies," association president Dr David Lacey said in a statement.
"This VTL will help ensure Malaysia's northern region manufacturing industries emerge strongly from the pandemic with maximised capacities and new products to compete in global markets," Lacey said.
Frepenca's member companies' total is close to 80 and include some of the world's top names in the automotive component, semiconductor and medical devices sectors.
"With Penang's high levels of vaccination, and industries' continued careful compliance with standard operating procedures, Frepenca is confident that the region is ready for a Singapore-PIA VTL which would support industry and tourism in the whole northern region of Malaysia," Lacey noted.
The first flight ferrying travellers using the air VTL from Singapore arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday.
