THE standard operating procedure (SOP) for border reopening must be comprehensive and not inconvenience travellers, National Recovery Council (NRC) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

Muhyiddin was referring to the Langkawi international tourism bubble, where daily Covid-19 testing proved unpopular among tourists.

“I hope the Health Ministry SOP is not stringent and is able to facilitate the reopening.

“Things like quarantine and testing must be decided on comprehensively. It must take into account all aspects.

“If I was asked to test daily, I wouldn’t want to visit too,” Muhyiddin said at a press conference after chairing the NRC meeting.

The Langkawi international travel bubble started on November 15 last year and has to date generated RM700 million for the island, Muhyiddin said.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin will announce the SOP, he said.

“The ministry is in the last leg of finalising the SOP for border reopening before it is submitted for cabinet approval. The announcement will be made soon.”

Last week, Khairy said MOH was given two weeks to come up with a guideline for the reopening of the country’s borders.

He said the second quarter of the year was a more realistic timeline for the country to reopen to international travellers.

“I expect the reopening to take place in the second quarter of the year. This is a realistic timeline.

“Early in the second quarter of the year, but the exact date will be decided later,” he said.

When asked if the Omicron wave currently experienced by Malaysia is a concern, he said MOH has assured the NRC that healthcare facilities are capable of handling the increase in daily cases and hospitalisations. 

“The whole world is facing Omicron, but in Malaysia, while cases are going up, healthcare facilities can sustain the load.

“If we can handle this, what is the problem? I don’t see why we should delay,” said Muhyiddin of the reopening of the borders. 

The vaccination coverage, including the booster dose take-up rate among Malaysians, also ensures that those who caught the virus won’t experience severe illness, he said. 

“Other countries, even Australia, which is lagging behind in vaccination, have reopened. We are top 10 in the world in terms of vaccination but reopening is delayed,” said Muhyiddin.

He said the longer Malaysia delays reopening its borders, the impact on economic recovery will be more negative.

The government will announce the actual date for the reopening soon, Muhyiddin added.

International borders have been closed since March 2020 when Malaysia was put under a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. 

Travel is limited to work, spouses, students and permanent residents, among others. 

Besides the Langkawi international travel bubble, currently, Malaysia and its neighbour to the south have a vaccinated travel lane arrangement to allow for Malaysians working in the island nation to return home. – February 22, 2022.