Malaysia: Authorities ease COVID-19 restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals from Aug. 10 /update 52

Event

Malaysian authorities have eased COVID-19 restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals from Aug. 10. Officials allow interdistrict and interstate travel for long-distance married couples and parents visiting children below 18 years old; individuals must present a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate to travel. Fully vaccinated Muslims may perform solat prayers in mosques and suraus with health protocols in place; the same applies to non-Muslim places of worship. The government allows fully vaccinated individuals in states under phase 2 and 3 of the National Recovery Plan (PPN) to participate in certain activities. Food establishments may offer dine-in services for vaccinated persons; children under the age of 17 may accompany their parents. Vaccinated individuals may travel between districts and also participate in outdoor and partially indoor non-contact sports and recreational activities 06:00-22:00 daily. Domestic tourism is allowed within the state for vaccinated persons; homestays and hotels may reopen.

The capital Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, as well as Johor, Kedah, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor states, remain under phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan (PPN) as of Aug. 10. Interdistrict and interstate travel is suspended; exemptions are in place for individuals attending vaccination appointments. 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. 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 home for medical reasons or emergencies within the same radius. People can participate in individual exercise within their neighborhood 07:00-20:00; Contact sports and gymnasiums remain barred. Shops selling essential items such as supermarkets, pharmacies, and departments stores may open 08:00-20:00. Food establishments may only offer takeaway or delivery services 06:00-22:00. 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, logistics, and ports services remain operational. Essential business approved by the authorities may operate with 60 percent of employees on site.

Kelantan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Sabah, and Terengganu states continue to be under phase 2 measures from Aug. 10. Only two unvaccinated people from each household can leave their residence to purchase essential items and at most three for medical reasons or emergencies. Authorities advise individuals aged 17 and below to stay at home. Some economic sectors like mining and agriculture can reopen. Food establishments may operate from 06:00-22:00 and offer dine-in services for fully vaccinated persons with health protocols in place. Shops selling essential items like supermarkets and pharmacies may open from 06:00-22:00. Officials limit on-site employees in essential industries to 80 percent.

Authorities are enacting phase 3 measures in Labuan, Perlis and Sarawak from Aug. 10. Only three unvaccinated individuals from each household can leave their residence to purchase essential items or for medical reasons or emergencies. Some economic sectors like agriculture, construction, manufacturing and mining can operate. Essential business approved by the authorities may operate with 80 percent of employees on site. Food establishments can operate from 06:00-00:00 and offer dine-in services for fully vaccinated persons with health protocols in place.

Officials may impose stricter protocols like enhanced movement control orders (MCO) in specific localities with high COVID-19 activity. State governments may also 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. Facemasks are mandatory in public nationwide.

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. Individuals may apply for a MyTravelPass (MTP) to enter or exit the country. Travelers must seek prior approval from authorities, undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival, and download the MySejahtera contact-tracing application. Arrivals from most countries must quarantine at designated sites for 14 days; officials may extend the quarantine period for an additional seven days based on a medical screening on the 14th day. Officials require a 21-day quarantine for permitted travelers from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. All travelers must undergo COVID-19 tests three days before their flights to Malaysia. Fully vaccinated returning residents and non-resident travelers with a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours before entry may quarantine at their residence. Foreigners may transit Malaysian airports as long as they do not pass through immigration points. Passengers traveling to Sarawak must complete an "enterSarawak" and eHealth Declaration form before departure.

Malaysia has suspended the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL), which allows 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. Fully vaccinated Malaysians in Singapore may quarantine at their residence upon returning.

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