MP questions plan to ease travel restrictions with Indonesia
Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming has questioned whether Indonesia has flattened its Covid-19 infection curve following Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s decision to discuss the implementation of “travel bubbles” with Indonesia.
“Travel bubble with Indonesia? Have they already flattened their curve?” Ong asked in a tweet today.
He was responding to a posting on Twitter by Foreign Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein...
Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming has questioned whether Indonesia has flattened its Covid-19 infection curve following Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s decision to discuss the implementation of “travel bubbles” with Indonesia.
“Travel bubble with Indonesia? Have they already flattened their curve?” Ong asked in a tweet today.
He was responding to a posting on Twitter by Foreign Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein who said Muhyiddin, Indonesian president Joko Widodo and the Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah had reached an agreement to work together to create a “travel bubble” in Asean.
It was previously reported that Muhyiddin had said Asean governments must materialise cohesive plans to quickly implement measures for “travel bubbles” between “green” member states.
The “green bubble” or “green lane” concept involves easing travel restrictions between two or more countries where local Covid-19 infections are low.
Previously, the Health Ministry director-general had said Malaysia was exploring possible “travel bubbles” with Singapore, Brunei, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, provided a common standard operating procedure could be agreed bilaterally.
Indonesia continues to record a high number of Covid-19 cases, with 1,240 new cases yesterday.
As of June 26, their total infections nationwide is 51,427 and the death toll is 2,683.
Hishammuddin later replied to Ong in another tweet, saying that the “travel bubble” will not be implemented immediately and that it is important to start the planning process early.
“The three leaders collectively called for an Asean travel bubble at yesterday’s summit for regional economic revival, it won’t be immediate.
“Standard operating procedures take a while to negotiate, even Australia and New Zealand’s trans-Tasman bubble hasn’t been finalised, but it is important to start planning early,” he said.
