By Nazifa Ramailan
GOMBAK, 16 October 2021: After almost two years of border closures, Malaysia moots to shorten or eliminate the mandatory quarantine order for fully vaccinated incoming tourists.
The recent announcement was made by the chairman of the National Recovery Council, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in his fourth meeting yesterday morning.
The relinquishment of the quarantine order corresponds with other countries as it is a part of mutual recognition of vaccine certificates.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin added: “The government is considering to lift up the inter-country travel restrictions to fully vaccinated tourists from certain countries without having to be quarantined like before.”
On Monday (11 October), Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had lifted the interstate travel ban to fully vaccinated Malaysians after months of being confined to their homes.
The deliberate plan was made as most states had shifted into the third phase of the National Recovery Plan, aside that the percentage of vaccination for Malaysian adult population reached beyond 90 percent.
On top of that, Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin announced the booster shots will also be administrated soon enough while the government will speed up the vaccine distributions for teenagers.
“The reopening of national borders is predicted to bring recovery to Malaysia’s economy, especially tourism, as it is badly affected when the Malaysian border was closed,” Tan Sri Muhyiddin added.
The former Prime Minister also hopes that the decision made will relive the economy again and will ease the business and social visitors to come here.
He told reporters: “It is hoped that the reopening of Malaysian borders can be implemented safely as it is extremely essential to heal our country’s economy.”***
Source: Malay Mail