Malaysia: Authorities enforcing eased COVID-19 restrictions in the capital Kuala Lumpur and Selangor State as of July 19 /update 50

Event

Malaysian authorities have ended the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) and are enforcing eased measures in most locations, including the capital Kuala Lumpur and Selangor State as of July 19. Under phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan (PPN), interdistrict and interstate travel remains suspended; exemptions are in place for individuals attending vaccination appointments. Authorities do not allow children under the age of 12 in public except for exercise, medical, education, or emergency reasons. Only two people from each household can leave their residence to purchase essential items within 10 km (6 miles) of their residence; at most, three people from each household may leave their residence for medical reasons or emergencies within the same radius.

Facemasks are mandatory in public. People can participate in individual exercise within their neighborhood from 07:00-20:00; contact sports and gymnasiums remain barred. Shops selling essential items such as supermarkets, pharmacies, and departments stores may open from 08:00-20:00. Short-term business travelers under the One-Stop Center (OSC) Initiative with permission from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) are exempt from the movement controls. Taxis are limited to ferrying two passengers at a time. Public transport may operate at 50-percent capacity. The shipment of nonessential goods from factories for import and export purposes is limited to 08:00-20:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; essential goods are exempt from the restrictions. Airports and ports remain operational. Essential business approved by the authorities may operate with 60 percent of employees on site.

Eight states including Kelantan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu remain under phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (PPN) as of July 19. Some economic sectors can reopen. People may participate in individual exercise and non-contact sports but must adhere to physical distancing requirements. Food establishments may operate from 06:00-10:00. Officials limit on-site employees in essential industries to 80 percent. Interdistrict and interstate travel remains suspended; exemptions are in place for essential reasons with permission from local authorities.

State governments may impose additional restrictions on top of those mandated by the central authorities. Sarawak requires all persons arriving in the state, including those from other parts of Malaysia, to present a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours before entry. Sabah requires most incoming passengers to provide a negative RT-PCR test result upon arrival; exceptions are in effect for travelers on state duty. Returning residents and nonresident travelers must quarantine for 14 days at their residence or hotels at their own expense. 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. Travelers must seek prior approval from authorities, undergo tests for COVID-19 upon arrival, and download the MySejahtera contact-tracing application. Arrivals from most countries must quarantine at designated sites for 10 days. Officials require 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving from several locations, including Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, UAE, the UK, and the US. Individuals arriving from the specified countries must undergo COVID-19 tests three days before their flights to Malaysia. Officials may include additional countries in the list at short notice. Foreign nationals from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, except for diplomatic officials, are barred from entering Malaysia. Authorities have indefinitely suspended flights from India.

Foreigners may transit Malaysian airports as long as they do not pass through immigration points. Malaysian nationals remain banned from traveling abroad, with limited exceptions.

Sabah State has banned entry for travelers, including long-term pass holders, from several countries, including Brazil, France, South Africa, and the US. Exceptions are in place for diplomats and their dependents, workers in the oil and gas industry, and maritime vessel crew members.

Malaysia has suspended the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL), allowing limited short-term cross-border travel with Singapore for business and official purposes since May 13. Authorities are requiring travelers under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA), which allows travelers to make multiple-entry visits to and from Singapore through land border crossings at Woodlands or Tuas for 90-day stays, to undergo 14-day quarantine at designated facilities.

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 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