The National Recovery Council recommended that the Malaysian Government should soon open the border like other countries in the region.
The National Recovery Council (MPN) recommends that the border be fully opened to international tourists from March 1, exempting the mandatory quarantine. The move is part of a plan to promote economic recovery. The recommendation was made by MPN in the context of neighboring countries such as Thailand, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia... loosening restrictions on vaccinated travelers.
Diners distance themselves while dining at a restaurant in Langkawi in September 2021. Photo: Reuters
On February 11, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Malaysian Cabinet had not yet discussed the MPN's proposal. Ismail Sabri affirmed that the government understands the difficulties of the tourism industry, which has been heavily affected by Covid-19, but does not want the domestic epidemic to be aggravated by welcoming international guests.
Mr. Ismail Sabri said, no one is sure how long tourism workers can hold out even with subsidies. The government supports the salary for workers affected by the epidemic but not much, only RM600 (3.2 million VND).
"The government wants to reopen the border because it wants to support the tourism industry, but we also want to protect the health of the Malaysian people," he said. To be able to open the door, the MPN's proposal needs to be reviewed by the Ministry of Health and submitted to the Cabinet.
The Malaysian border remains closed since March 2020 to prevent Covid-19. The Southeast Asian country recently opened a Vaccination Travel Corridor (VTL) with Singapore in Johor.
The number of daily Covid-19 infections in Malaysia has increased in recent weeks, at a four-month high. On February 11, the country recorded more than 20,900 new infections, adding to a total of more than 2.9 million cases, with more than 32,000 deaths. Malaysia's Covid-19 mortality and infection rate per capita is the highest in Asia.
About 98% of the adult population in this country has received two doses of the vaccine, more than 50% of the three doses. About 89% of 12-17 year olds have been vaccinated and vaccination work for 5-11 year olds started in early February.
