Maybank and Malaysian Association in Singapore offer S$40,000 land VTL assistance fund

Malaysia – People in Malaysia who earn low wages can get help getting back home through the Singapore-Malaysia Land VTL thanks to a fund set up by Maybank and the Malaysian Association in Singapore (Masis). The fund is called the “Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) Support Fund.”

People who work in Singapore and have a valid work permit from Maybank can apply through Masis for up to S$300 in reimbursement for costs related to Antigen Rapid Test (ART) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. This money can be used to cover the costs of these tests.

The head of global banking at Maybank Singapore says that since the Covid-19 circuit breaker last April, the bank has been helping Malaysian workers through Masis.

Some of these workers could not cross the border to go home before the VTL scheme between Singapore and Malaysia was set up. Now, there is a “queue” of people who want to go home.

Maybank Singapore has given S$30,000 from its Zakat fund to buy 50 new-to-market items made in Malaysia and give them to 300 low-income Malaysians who work in Singapore.

“Trying halal food from their home country might help them feel better about being away from home. As part of our goal to make financial services more human in the community where we work, we will keep helping where we can.” Seow said.

The Halal Route to Market Program has made 50 new halal food items manufactured in Malaysia accessible in a Singapore supermarket (HalMap).

It is a Maybank Islamic program aimed at expanding the business network of Malaysian small and medium-sized firms (SMEs).

The scheme began with the selection of ten Malaysian SMEs to enter the halal food market in Singapore.

Eccellente by HAO Mart, situated in Kinex Shopping Mall, is now selling the 50 new-to-market items.

Meanwhile, Masis president Aarathi Arumugam said that applications may be sent by email to masisorg@gmail.com.

According to her, they can arrange for online payment so people don’t have to wait until they return to Singapore to receive the funds.

They must provide four facts in the email: a valid Singapore work visa; proof of VTL-Land Registration; a receipt for an ART/PCR test that includes their complete name; and account information for payment (Singapore or Malaysia).

Within 14 days, the application and reimbursement will be processed.