KUCHING – A bilateral agreement to facilitate smoother cross-border travel between Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam is currently under negotiation.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg announced that discussions have resulted in a preliminary consensus on introducing a special travel pass.
This document would allow residents of Sarawak and Sabah easier entry into Brunei for periods of up to two or three months, supporting more seamless movement between the neighboring regions.
The Premier revealed these details following his officiation of the Sheikh Othman Sarawak Chair Conference at the Sarawak Islamic Complex on Wednesday.
He indicated that the proposed pass is a direct response to frequent travel between the areas and is designed to remove existing barriers. He also noted that the arrangement would equally benefit Sabah, which shares a border with Brunei.
This initiative aligns with recent high-level discussions between Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, which covered broader issues of commercial and energy cooperation.
In a related development, the Premier highlighted ongoing energy collaboration, including plans to connect Sarawak’s electrical grid to Brunei’s via a 275 kilovolt transmission line from Tudan to Kuala Belait.
The event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including the Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, and several deputy ministers.