KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Malaysia today announced further travel restrictions, effective tomorrow, for the Singapore-Malaysia vaccinated travel lane (VTL), the Langkawi travel bubble, and travellers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, and Norway.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said, as of yesterday, the UK, US, Australia, France, and Norway have been put on Malaysia’s travel list of countries that reported community transmission of the Omicron variant of concern.
Malaysians and foreigners arriving in Malaysia from those countries must take an RT-PCR Covid-19 test two days before departure, another PCR test upon arrival in Malaysia, as well as wear a digital tracker upon arrival at the international airport.
Arrivals from the UK, US, Australia, France, and Norway will be subject to a seven-day or 10-day quarantine, depending on one’s vaccination status, either at home or at a designated quarantine station.
PCR tests are required on Day 5 of the seven-day quarantine or on Day 8 of the 10-day quarantine. Quarantine may be extended depending on risk evaluation on the last day of quarantine.
Release from quarantine will be granted on Day 8 or Day 10 if quarantine is not extended, and if PCR tests on Day 5 or Day 8 respectively show negative results for Covid-19.
Malaysia-Singapore VTL
Both air and land VTL between Malaysia and Singapore, which is open only to fully vaccinated travellers, requires a PCR test for VTL-Air and a professional RTK antigen or PCR test for VTL-Land, two days before departure for Malaysia.
Travellers are also subject to a PCR test upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport or the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2, or a professional RTK antigen test at the Larkin Sentral bus terminal in Johor Baru, Johor, for VTL-Land travellers.
Quarantine is not required, but all VTL travellers must test for Covid-19 every day for six days upon arrival in Malaysia: a professional RTK antigen test on Days 3 and 5 post-arrival, and a self-antigen test on Days 2, 4, and 6 after arrival.
Travellers are required to upload their test results on MySejahtera.
These extra tests are also mandated for VTL travellers returning to Malaysia from Singapore.
Langkawi Travel Bubble
Vaccinated travellers can continue to make their way to Langkawi except those from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi — countries that have been temporarily placed on Malaysia’s travel ban list.
Travellers to Langkawi will need to take a PCR test two days before departure to Malaysia, and upon arrival at the Langkawi International Airport.
A digital home surveillance order will be issued, and travellers can then make their way to their respective hotels while waiting for their test sample results.
Travellers must test for Covid-19 via a professional RTK antigen test on Days 3 and 5 post-arrival and self-antigen test on Days 2, 4, and 6 after arrival. All antigen test results must be reported on MySejahtera.
Travellers are also required to take a PCR test two days before they depart from Langkawi.
Short-Term Business Travellers Via MIDA’s One Stop Centre Platform
Fully vaccinated short-term business travellers under Malaysian Investment Development Authority’s (MIDA) one stop centre (OSC) platform are allowed to enter Malaysia.
However, they are required to take a PCR test two days before departing for Malaysia, and upon arrival at KLIA’s Business Traveller Centre.
Quarantine is not required for short-term business travellers, although their visiting period is limited to a maximum 14 days, that can be verified by the OSC Committee.
Travellers must strictly follow their OSC Committee-approved controlled itinerary, and be accompanied by a liaison officer provided by MIDA.
All short-term business travellers must test for Covid-19 every day for six days upon arrival in Malaysia: a professional RTK antigen test on Days 3 and 5 post-arrival and self-antigen test on Days 2, 4, and 6 after arrival.
They are required to upload their test results on MySejahtera, and the liaison officer must make sure that this is carried out accordingly.
Malaysian/ Long-Term Pass Holders Travelling From Countries On Travel Ban List
Malaysians and long-term pass holders returning to Malaysia on the travel ban list — which currently comprises South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi — are now required to do an RT-PCR test two days before departure, shortened from the initial three-day rule.
They must also do an RT-PCR test upon arrival and on Day 10 of mandatory quarantine at a designated facility, where they will be required to wear a digital tracker. No time-off is allowed during quarantine.
Travellers will be released from quarantine on Day 15 if they test negative on an RT-PCR test on Day 10 and if risk evaluation on Day 14 shows that quarantine does not have to be extended.
Foreigners flying from, transiting through, or had 14-day travel history to the listed southern African countries are not permitted to enter Malaysia, while Malaysians are not allowed to visit those countries.