TRAVELLERS entering Malaysia from Singapore using the bilateral vaccinated travel lane (VTL) arrangement must self-test for Covid-19 on the third and seventh day after entering the country, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said.

He added that all Singaporean visitors must also report their test results through the MySejahtera app, regardless of their port of entry.

These measures are being added as a precaution against the Omicron variant, he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

At present, Malaysia only has a VTL arrangement with Singapore by land and air.

The VTL arrangement allows quarantine-free travel, and up to now, only required a pre-departure negative Covid-19 test result, and another test taken upon arrival.

Khairy said that in view of the emergence of the Omicron variant, Malaysia is delaying VTL arrangements planned with other countries.

“This delay is until a clearer picture is obtained of the spread of the Omicron variant globally.”

He said the public must continue to exercise caution and follow the SOP.

The Omicron variant is said to have up to 50 mutations, which has stoked fear worldwide that it may be more transmissible than the Delta variant.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Omciron could pose a very high risk and is “probably more transmissible” than the Delta variant.

Yesterday, the government postponed the country’s transition to the endemic phase of Covid-19 due to this latest development, with Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein saying more studies were required. – December 1, 2021.