Discussions to reopen international borders still in progress
Malaysia is still not opening its international borders to foreign workers and tourists as discussions with countries categorised as green zones are still ongoing.
Senior Minister (security cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that during the talks, Malaysia stressed on obtaining reciprocity to allow Malaysians to enter the countries concerned.
“We want the opening of borders to...
Malaysia is still not opening its international borders to foreign workers and tourists as discussions with countries categorised as green zones are still ongoing.
Senior Minister (security cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that during the talks, Malaysia stressed on obtaining reciprocity to allow Malaysians to enter the countries concerned.
“We want the opening of borders to work both ways. If they are still tightening conditions for our people, we would also not allow theirs to enter.
“The matter is being discussed by the Foreign Ministry. Nonetheless, it depends on the advice of the Ministry of Health (MOH) as some countries which were earlier in the green zone have returned to red again. We will look at the current situation,” he said.
He told reporters after a goodwill event with Covid-19 frontliners which was also attended by Pahang Basic Amenities, Public Delivery System, and Innovations Committee chairperson Norolazali Sulaiman today.
Ismail Sabri who is Bera MP also said MOH had identified six Covid-19 green zone countries for the conditional re-opening of international borders namely Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.
He however said the four categories of exemptions for foreigners to enter the country in compliance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) are still the same and they are diplomats, EP1 category expatriates, Malaysia My Second Home participants, and students resuming their courses.
Meanwhile, he said Malaysia has identified the locations and number of Malaysians stranded in other countries due to the movement control of the countries involved.
Ismail Sabri said they are divided into two categories, Malaysians on a visit overseas as well as students abroad. He added that the Foreign Ministry would be getting detailed statistics on them.
“We will discuss which category is pressing to bring back. The Foreign Ministry will be putting up the proposals and we will decide,” he said.
- Bernama
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