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PUTRAJAYA – Starting next week, Malaysia will prevent citizens of more countries from entering the country, including those of the United States and Great Britain, Chief Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Thursday (September 3).
The government will impose entry bans starting next Monday (Sept. 7) in those countries that have registered more than 150,000 Covid-19 cases, he said, as Malaysia tries to protect itself from coronavirus infections.
The Chief Minister (Security group) said that among the countries on the list are the United States, Great Britain, Brazil, France, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Bangladesh, the Bernama news agency reported.
The government announced on Tuesday entry bans on those from Indonesia, India and the Philippines starting next Monday, including those with long-term resident passes.
“We will add to the list more countries considered high risk, which have more than 150,000 positive cases. Their citizens will not be able to enter,” said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, quoted by Bernama.
“However, for emergency cases or those involving bilateral relations, such as if a person needs to come to a meeting between countries, we will allow entry. But it requires permission from the Immigration Department,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting to discuss the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The minister clarified that the government will continue to allow Malaysians in high-risk countries to return home, but they will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Ismail Sabri said on Tuesday that long-term pass holders from India, Indonesia and the Philippines will not be able to enter Malaysia starting next Monday, following an increase in Covid-19 cases in these countries.
Citizens of the three countries that will be affected include those with permanent resident status, participants of the Malaysia My Second Home program, expatriates and holders of professional visit passes. The ban would also include spouses of Malaysian citizens and students from all three nations.
Many of them were still allowed to travel to the country in recent months despite strict travel restrictions.
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