KUALA LUMPUR -- Song Ewe Jurn has not seen his frail grandmother in Singapore for over two years. Before COVID-19 shut the border in March 2020, the architect was one of thousands of Malaysians who frequently traveled to the island city-state on a tourist visa.
So when the 38-year-old heard Malaysia's announcement this month that fully vaccinated citizens would be allowed to travel abroad, coupled with Singapore's moves to ease travel restrictions, he was "very excited."