PUTRAJAYA should reopen borders to fully vaccinated international travellers as early as March 1 as it will help stimulate Malaysia’s economic growth, the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) said today.

FMM president Soh Thian Lai was referring to the suggestion made by the National Recovery Council (NRC) that the borders could be opened as early as March 1.

Soh said while the timing may not be ideal due to the Omicron wave, it is necessary for economic recovery.

“The reopening of international borders at this juncture, while understandably may not be ideal given the current Omicron variant wave the country is experiencing and the number of cases rising on a daily basis, is however necessary and critical to support the nation’s economic recovery,” he said in a statement.

The reopening must also be done with proper standard operating procedures in place, he said.

Not only will reopening the border stimulate the economy, it will also allow for movement of goods and people.

“Easing border restrictions would facilitate human capital movement for work and trade, which would have a positive impact on the recovery of industries as well as help address unemployment caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Especially for the manufacturing sector, many companies on their roads to recovery are considering expansion, new business opportunities, diversification of business and products, exploring new markets, etc.

“There are also companies commissioning new machinery and equipment as part of their business and product diversification, deploying new R&D (research and development) projects, and commissioning technology adoption from overseas vendors, all as part of their business revival strategies,” Soh said.

Soh also made reference to neighbouring countries such as Thailand, the Philippines and Australia, which are now allowing quarantine-free travel into their respective shores.

“None of these countries has been spared from the Omicron wave and some were even more badly impacted, given that their vaccination rates are lower than Malaysia’s.”

If the borders cannot be opened soon, Soh suggests that more vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs), such as the one between Malaysia and Singapore, be opened.

The government is currently mulling a VTL between Sabah and Brunei.

Earlier today, NRC chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said the government will announce the date for border reopening soon.

The standard operating procedures and guidelines for the reopening are in the final stages of development, he added. – February 22, 2022.