Malaysia: Officials to ease COVID-19 curbs in most localities March 5-18 /update 30

Event

Malaysian authorities will ease restrictions in most localities March 5-18 due to lower COVID-19 activity. Officials will also allow interdistrict travel nationwide, except in Sabah State, from March 5, though most interstate travel remains suspended.

Kuala Lumpur and Johor, Penang, and Selangor states will ease restrictions and implement the conditional movement control orders (CMCO) March 5-18. Additionally, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and Sarawak states will also continue to enact CMCO through March 18. Under CMCO, industries can operate with protocols in place, though some businesses like entertainment venues remain suspended. Markets, shopping centers, retail stores, and food establishments can open 0600-0000 daily. Social gatherings, meetings, workshops, and seminars can occur with up to half the venue capacity. Most inter-state and inter-district travel remains banned.

Malacca, Pahang, Sabah, and Terengganu states and the federal territories of Labuan and Putrajaya will ease protocols and implement the recovery movement control order (RMCO), the least stringent set of protocols, March 5-18. Perlis State will continue to enforce RMCO through March 18. Under RMCO, most businesses can operate, though public places where social distancing rules are hard to enforce remain closed. Public transport can operate with curbs, such as requiring passengers to undergo temperature checks and wear facemasks. Using facemasks remains compulsory in crowded public places, though residents are urged to wear facemasks in public to the extent possible. Mass gatherings can occur with protocols, such as wearing facemasks and a cap of 500 people. Most interstate travel remains suspended.

Authorities have also enforced enhanced movement control order (EMCO), the strictest set of controls, in areas with high COVID-19 activity. Locations enforcing EMCO include parts of Sarawak State's Sibu Jaya, where the rules are in place through March 11. EMCO rules typically include stay-home orders and a ban on entry and exit from the affected areas. Furthermore, the central government has designated areas recording more than 40 COVID-19 cases in the previous two weeks as red zones; such areas may see local restrictions.

State governments may impose additional restrictions on top of those mandated by the central authorities. Sarawak requires arrivals, including those from other parts of Malaysia, to present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result taken within 72 hours before entry. Central or state authorities may enact or reintroduce restrictions if COVID-19 cases increase.

Travel Restrictions
Most foreigners remain banned from entering Malaysia; exemptions are in place for resident diplomats, foreign spouses and dependents of Malaysian citizens, long-term pass holders, and expatriate employees working in essential industries and their dependents, among others. Travelers must seek advance approval from authorities, undergo tests for COVID-19 upon arrival, and download the MySejahtera contact-tracing application. Arrivals must quarantine at designated sites for 10 days. Foreigners may transit at Malaysian airports as long as they do not pass through immigration points. Malaysian nationals remain banned from traveling abroad, with limited exceptions.

Sabah State bans entry for travelers, including long-term pass holders, from several countries. Exceptions are in place for diplomats and their dependents, workers in the oil and gas industry, and vessel crew. Sabah allows entry for visitors from Brunei for any purposes, provided these travelers test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before travel and arrive by air or land.

Malaysia allows limited cross-border travel with Singapore for business and official purposes. Under the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) scheme, people can travel short-term from Singapore with an exemption from standard quarantine requirements for arrivals. The travelers must present approval letters from immigration authorities and a company or government agency in Malaysia, obtain visas if required, and test for COVID-19 within 72 hours before travel and upon arrival. Such travelers must comply with a controlled itinerary for the first 14 days and adhere to contact tracing measures. Additionally, under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) scheme, which allows travelers to undertake multiple-entry visits through land border crossings at Woodlands or Tuas for 90-day stays, people must isolate at government-designated facilities for at least a week. Travelers can leave the quarantine sites upon testing negative for COVID-19.

Advice

Follow all official health and safety measures. Ensure contingency plans account for additional disruptive controls or further extensions of current restrictions. Postpone travel if affected by travel restrictions. Confirm flight status before checking out of accommodation and departing for the airport. Follow all official instructions, particularly if traveling from affected locations. Allow additional time for immigration and health screenings at all ports of entry. Consider delaying travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays.

Resources

Prime Minister's Office
Immigration Department of Malaysia
World Health Organization (WHO)
MySejahtera application