Malaysia: Officials to ease COVID-19 restrictions for Johor, Negeri Sembilan, and Pahang from Sept. 24. /update 54

Event

Authorities have eased COVID-19 restrictions in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, and Pahang as of Sept. 24. The government classifies states into four phases under the National Recovery Plan (NRP) in order of decreasingly strict controls. Facemasks are mandatory in public areas. The phases as of Sept. 24 are as follows:

• Phase 1: The locations include Kedah State. Interdistrict and interstate travel are suspended; authorities may provide exemptions for vaccination appointments and approved individuals, like long-distance spouses. Public transport may operate at 50-percent capacity. If not fully vaccinated, only two people from each household can leave their residence to purchase essential items; at most, three people from each household may leave home for medical reasons or emergencies. Taxis and ride-hailing services are limited to ferrying one unvaccinated passenger at a time. Government agencies must allow workers to telecommute as much as possible with at most 40 percent of essential staff on-site. Construction and manufacturing companies approved by the government, as well as mining and quarrying sectors, may operate with health protocols in place and at varying capacity limits depending on vaccination rates among workers; employees must undergo a rapid antigen test every two weeks. Other essential sectors approved by the authorities may operate with 60 percent of employees on site. Food establishments may open 06:00-22:00 and offer dine-in services for fully vaccinated individuals and accompanying children aged 17; asymptomatic people may also dine in. Shops selling essential items like supermarkets and pharmacies may open from 08:00-20:00. Social activities like festive celebrations and weddings remain prohibited.

• Phase 2: The locations include Johor, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Melacca, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya, Sabah, and Selangor. Most restrictions, such as movement controls for individuals that are not fully vaccinated, as well as interdistrict and interstate travel, remain the same as Phase 1 measures. However, more essential businesses from the agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and trade sectors may operate than in Phase 1. Private sector offices may work on-site at varying capacities depending on vaccination rates; companies may operate on-site at full capacity if at least 80 percent of workers are fully vaccinated. Most retail stores may open 06:00-22:00; customers must be fully vaccinated to enter the premises. Shops selling essential items like supermarkets and pharmacies may open from 06:00-22:00.

• Phase 3: The locations include Pahang, Perlis, Sarawak, and Terengganu. Interdistrict travel within the same state is allowed. Up to three unvaccinated individuals from each household can leave their residence to purchase essential items or for medical reasons or emergencies. Taxis and ride-hailing services are limited to ferrying two unvaccinated passengers at a time. Public transport may operate at full capacity. Government agencies may operate at 80 percent capacity. Private sector offices may work on-site at varying capacities depending on vaccination rates; companies may operate on-site at full capacity if at least 80 percent of workers are fully vaccinated. All manufacturing sector businesses may operate with 80 percent of workers on site. Companies in the agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and trade sectors may operate. Food establishments can open 06:00-00:00 and offer dine-in services for fully vaccinated persons with health protocols in place.

• Phase 4: The locations include Labuan and Negeri Sembilan. All economic sectors can operate at full capacity with health protocols in place. Social activities like festive celebrations and weddings may take place at 50 percent capacity. Seminars and meetings can also occur at 50 percent capacity.

Some eased restrictions are in place for fully vaccinated individuals. 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. 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. Officials have resumed domestic travel to Langkawi for fully vaccinated individuals with flights from Johor Bahru, Kota Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Penang.

Officials may impose stricter protocols like enhanced movement control orders (EMCO) 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 72 hours 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. Approved business travelers staying in Malaysia for a duration of 14 days or less may be exempt from quarantine requirements. Foreigners may transit Malaysian airports as long as they do not pass through immigration points. Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan may have additional requirements in place; 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. Short-term business travelers under the One-Stop Center (OSC) Initiative with permission from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) are exempt from domestic movement controls between districts and states.

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