TRAVELLERS at Kuala Lumpur International Airport have expressed satisfaction with the measures to screen people for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has caused alarm due to its similarities to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus of 2002.  

Most passengers The Malaysian Insight spoke to were pleased on how Malaysian authorities were trying to tackle the problem at the country’s main gateway.

“The screening in KLIA is okay. I feel safe to enter Malaysia,” said tourist Margaret, who arrived from Hong Kong, where five 2019-nCoV infections have been reported.

However, Margaret declined to say if the airport in Hong Kong had screened her when she left for Malaysia.

Tham, who arrived from Taipei, said KLIA’s measures were sufficient.

“I don’t think there is a need for additional safety requirement as what they are doing is good enough. I don’t know what else they can do,” said Tham. Taiwan has reported three cases of the virus.

Chinese tourists met at the arrival hall said they had not complaints but did not want to be drawn on the measures other than to say it was good.

Yesterday, Malaysia Airports said that it was working with agencies and airlines to screen international passengers at its gateway airports across the country, in light of spread of the virus.

One of the measures taken by the Health Ministry and supported by Malaysia Airports is thermal screening of passengers and flight crews arriving from China.

They also have allocated special quarantine bays near arrival gates for swift isolation of passengers exhibiting symptoms of the virus.

At klia2, several local tourist guides and Chinese nationals from mainland refused to answer questions posed to them. 

However, Malaysian Shakir Shukri, who just arrived from Fukuoka, Japan, said the screening at Malaysian airports can be improved as he said the chances of person going undetected are high. 

Comparing on how he was screened in Japan, he said the method used here are very basic for such a rapidly spreading viral epidemic.

“In Japan, they screen us when we arrive and before we depart. We had to go through individual screening. They even take our body temperature to check if we have any sort of illness. 

“Here, once we come into the arrival hall, two people will just monitor the camera only. I think that is not enough because if they are negligent, then they might miss them,” he told The Malaysian Insight upon his arrival at klia2. 

Mohamad Kamrul commended the authorities and said there was not much the authorities could do other than screen tourists.

“Hopefully, those coming through will be detected for the symptoms and measures can be taken to quarantine them,” he said.

The coronavirus originating from Wuhan, China, has killed 56 people and left almost 2,000 ill.

Malaysia has four confirmed cases of infection, as has Singapore.

Today, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the spread of the novel coronavirus is not at the stage where tourists should be banned from entering the country.  

“We cannot predict at this moment (how serious it will be). Many countries also face the same problem. We will also have to assess when it has hit the critical stage.”

The prime minister added the government has started taking action to curb the spread of the virus.

“This is a serious issue as we don’t recognise this disease. We are also not very sure about the treatment.

“At the moment, it is prevention, not treatment, and it consist of wearing masks and keeping away from people who are suspected of being infected.” – January 26, 2020.