Malaysia: Officials maintain tight COVID-19 curbs in some localities through March 4, ease rules in other areas /update 29

Event

Malaysian authorities have extended stricter rules, known as movement control orders (MCO), in Kuala Lumpur and Johor, Penang, and Selangor states through March 4 to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Under MCO, officials urge residents to stay at home, with two people per household authorized to leave their residences to buy essential goods. Authorities now allow people to travel more than 10 km (6 miles) from their homes, though most inter-state and inter-district travel remains banned. Only two people are allowed in each personal vehicle. Most nonessential businesses are closed, and employees must work from home to the extent possible. Social gatherings are banned. Authorities may modify or further extend the controls at short notice.

Authorities will implement conditional movement control orders (CMCO), which are less strict than MCO, in the federal territories of Labuan and Putrajaya and Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Sabah, and Terengganu states through March 4. Additionally, Sarawak State's local officials are enforcing CMCO through March 1. 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. Medical facilities can continue to operate for 24 hours 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.

Perlis State will enact the recovery movement control order (RMCO), which is the least stringent set of protocols, through March 4. Under RMCO, most businesses can operate, though public places where social distancing rules are hard to enforce, like nightclubs, remain closed. Public transport can operate with curbs in place, 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), which is the strictest set of controls, in areas with high COVID-19 activity. Locations enforcing EMCO include the Sungai Maong area in Kuching, Sarawak State, where the rules are in place through March 2. EMCO rules typically include stay-home orders, a ban on entry and exit from the affected areas, and the suspension of educational institutions. 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 statewide restrictions on top of those mandated by the central authorities. Sarawak State requires arrivals, including those from other parts of Malaysia, to present a negative result from a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within 72 hours before entry. Central or state authorities may implement or reintroduce restrictions in the coming weeks 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. The affected countries include Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the US. 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