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PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has complained that variations between states in setting travel rules are puzzling for business travelers.
“It would be a nightmare” for international businessmen who need to travel to the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, MEF Executive Director Shamsuddin Bardan said in a comment on a government announcement about smear tests and quarantine periods that affect to different regions.
Speaking with FMT, he asked for the standardization of the rules.
Chief Security Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said recently that travelers to Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak must undergo swab tests three days before departure.
Those entering Sarawak will be quarantined for 14 days, but there is no quarantine rule for Sabah and Labuan.
Travelers to Peninsular Malaysia from Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak do not have to undergo hyssop tests and will not be quarantined.
Shamsuddin said that travel rules should be based on scientific facts and data on the current Covid-19 situation.
He added that the 14-day quarantine requirement for travelers was “too restrictive.”
“The requirement will slow down efforts to help companies recover as most corporate staff will not travel to Sarawak for the time being, preferring to wait for the restriction to be lifted,” he said.
Shaun Cheah, executive director of the Malaysia International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, agreed that varying travel requirements could cause problems, but said the companies were highly adaptable.
“As long as the government opens up interstate travel, it is good for business,” he told FMT.
Cheah said a bigger problem is that companies were trying to deal with troubled conflicts in regulations set by Putrajaya, state governments and local councils.
“For example, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry could grant a license for a company to operate a factory, but the state government would allow the factory to be built only in a particular location.
“However, when the factory has been built on the agreed site, the city council can refuse to issue an operating license.”
He said such contradictions were causing discontent among foreign investors.
Cheah suggested that the government engage with stakeholders before announcing new policies or standard operating procedures.
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