PUTRAJAYA must give a definitive timeline for when international borders will reopen in order to attract foreign investors, which will boost the economy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

The National Recovery Council (NRC) chairman said if borders continue to be closed, the economy cannot enter its recovery phase.

He said the NRC will ask Putrajaya to open the borders in stages soon, so economic activities can continue.

“It is important there is a very definitive timeline that must be set by the government through the conditions we (the council) have put forward,” Muhyiddin said.

“This is to ensure the timeline is observed, and (visitors/investors from) certain countries that we believe are controlling the Covid-19 pandemic well should be allowed to come in,” he told reporters at a Chinese New Year celebration in Kuala Lumpur today.

“We also hope the Health Ministry addresses the issue of quarantine and Covid-19 screenings.

He urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yakoob and the cabinet to study the proposals made by the NRC.

At the last NRC meeting, the members had proposed that a special committee comprising the health and home ministries be formed.

“They (the government) should say when borders can open. They need to sit down and seriously reconsider NRC’s proposals so that borders can reopen soon.

“There must be a definite timeline, like in a month or two or three months. The longer we wait, the more problems we will face (economically).”

On January 10, Muhyiddin said the NRC had recommended that talks be held to study, plan and propose measures for the immediate and safe reopening of the country’s borders.

He said reopening of international borders is an important measure that would support the country’s recovery process.

Muhyiddin had said the council recommended that a committee be formed between the ministries involved to propose measures to reopen the country’s borders, namely, when and how it can be opened in stages. – February 1, 2022.