Malaysia was never on the World Health Organisation's (WHO) list of countries hit by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), said Health Minister Chua Jui Meng today.

In view of this, he added there was no need for the country to obtain a verification from WHO that is free of the deadly virus.

"We have never been listed by WHO as a Sars-hit country, so how is it to get out from the list (as the country has never been included in the first place)," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

The minister said there was confusion among certain quarters who are wondering why Malaysia was yet to obtain a clearance from the health body since Singapore was taken off the list on May 23.

No outbreak

Chua explained that Malaysia was not on the list because there was no outbreak here and the two people who died had contracted the disease abroad.

He reiterated that the country had employed strict and effective measure to prevent the disease from spreading.

He added that the country's efforts were recognised by WHO, prompting it to hold a global conference on Sars in Kuala Lumpur this month.

Chua said over 1,000 participants were expected to attend the June 17-18 meet. "They include 500 experts and specialists on public health, epidemiology, clinical medicine, virology apart from between 200 and 400 media representatives and 500 other participants."

Feverish travellers

In a related development, people found to have fever at land checkpoints following cross-border travel between Malaysia and Singapore will be isolated and subsequently taken back to their point of embarkation.

Malaysian and Singapore officials clarified this matter in a joint statement issued after their second bilateral meeting on Sars in the republic today.

"In reference to the Common Protocol on the Referral of suspected Sars travellers across land border between Singapore and Malaysia, the meeting clarified that travellers detected with fever at the land checkpoint would be isolated and subsequently conveyed back to their point of embarkation".

The meeting, held at the republic's Woodlands checkpoint, was a follow-up to the first in Putrajaya on April 16.

The Malaysian delegation here was led by Health Ministry secretary-general Alias Ali and director-general Dr Mohamad Taha Arif.

Stronger foundation

Malaysia had complained to Singapore authorities over an incident where they sent a man back to Johore after he was detected with Sars-related symptoms at the republic's checkpoint.

Asked on the screening process at the Woodlands checkpoint, Alias said the republic had done well despite incidents of individuals slipping into Malaysia with Sars symptoms.

"The (numbers of) daily commuters between Johor Baharu and Singapore are very big, 120,000 each way. With any kind of system of screening, I don't expect really 110 percent full proof. There could be some cases that could slip (through); there is a possibility," he said.

The secretary-general said the two countries should not dwell on past differences but should move forward to establish a stronger foundation to fight the deadly disease.