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KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has allowed people from three categories from 23 countries who were previously prohibited from entering the country to enter the state.
The exemptions are for qualified diplomats under the exemption order and their dependents; the crew of a ship entering the state for registration, joint shipping, or logout activities; and professional workers in the oil and gas industry who have passes and entry authorized by the state government.
Sabah’s Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Masidi Manjun said this following the state government’s decision on Friday (November 20) to revoke its earlier statement on September 4 regarding the entry ban for pass holders to long-term from India, Indonesia and the Philippines.
He said the state government is adopting the federal government’s standardized entry ban for the list of 23 Covid-19 high-risk nations.
India, Indonesia and the Philippines are already on the list, which includes the United States, Brazil, Russia, Peru, Colombia, South Africa, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iran, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France. , Turkey, Italy, Germany and Iraq.
“For diplomats or embassy staff entering (Sabah) for the first time, they must first obtain the approval of the Director General of Immigration. Of course, those in these three categories must also demonstrate that they are healthy and follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), ”Masidi said.
Previously, long-term pass holders from the 23 nations not allowed entry included those with permanent residence (PR), Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program passes, all expats and their dependents, spouses , students and passes for temporary work visits.
The restriction also included citizens of other countries who live or have long-term passes in the 23 nations.
Masidi recalled that there are guidelines for the entry permit to Sabah for non-Malaysians already in other parts of Malaysia (the peninsula, Sarawak, Labuan), which have been applied from October 3 to December 6.
“All entry into Sabah will be based on updated restraining orders that will be issued by the state government from time to time,” he added.
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