PUTRAJAYA: Overseas vacationers can quickly benefit from the solar, sea and sand of Langkawi as Malaysia checks the reopening of its borders with the Covid-19 endemic stage nearing.
Asserting a world tourism bubble initiative to take impact on Nov 15, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob mentioned overseas employees would even be allowed to enter the nation, starting with these for the plantation sector.
The Prime Minister mentioned an SOP checklist had been authorized by the Covid-19 pandemic administration particular committee and was in place for worldwide vacationers and overseas employees coming into Malaysia.
“This pilot challenge shall be carried out for 3 months to allow the Well being Ministry and Nationwide Safety Council to judge the effectiveness of this initiative earlier than it may be applied at different islands and vacationer locations,” he mentioned in an announcement after chairing the assembly yesterday.
The goal group for the worldwide tourism bubble initiative are high-spending vacationers who’ve been absolutely vaccinated from nations below the Immigration Division’s, and Well being and Overseas ministries’ permitted checklist.
Vacationers are to remain in Langkawi for at the very least three days with a destructive RT-PCR Covid-19 take a look at outcome 72 hours earlier than departure.
They’re additionally required to have insurance coverage protection of at the very least US$80,000 (RM332,032) and are to obtain and register the MySejahtera app.
Overseas vacationers arriving through the KL Worldwide Airport are to endure fast molecular testing whereas these flying on to Langkawi should endure RT-PCR take a look at on the second day.
These staying for under three days can use their second day Covid-19 swab take a look at to depart from Malaysia whereas these coming for greater than 5 days are to endure a take a look at on the fifth day. All prices shall be borne by the vacationers.
On overseas employees, Ismail Sabri mentioned the assembly had authorized the SOP – introduced by the Human Assets Ministry – particularly to fulfill the urgent want for employees within the plantation sector.
He nonetheless didn’t state when plantation corporations may start recruiting overseas employees.
“As for different sectors, the quota and when overseas employees shall be allowed to enter the nation shall be primarily based on the choice by the Overseas Employees Committee collectively chaired by the Residence and Human Assets ministers,” the Prime Minister added.
The situations listed for pre-departure embrace overseas employees having to be absolutely vaccinated, endure RT-PCR checks 72 hours earlier than leaving the nation of origin and to have vaccination certificates.
They’re to enter solely through KL Worldwide Airport and KLIA2, aside from overseas employees from Thailand who’re employed as crew for vessels who can enter through Bukit Kayu Hitam, Wang Kelian, Betong and Rantau Panjang.
They’ll endure a seven-day quarantine, which shall be coordinated by the Well being Ministry and a RT-PCR take a look at shall be performed on the second and fifth day of quarantine.
These discovered to be constructive shall be remoted at non-public low-risk quarantine centres whereas these in classes three, 4 and 5 shall be referred to non-public hospitals.
As soon as quarantine is accomplished and employees are confirmed to be destructive, they are going to be despatched to their employers.
“The success in bringing the nation out of the pandemic doesn’t solely depend upon the federal government’s initiatives and methods.
“In truth, it depends closely on the extent of SOP compliance among the many public. So, please proceed to placed on face masks, practise bodily distancing and all the time take care of your private hygiene and security,” mentioned the Prime Minister.
