Malaysia: Authorities tightening COVID-19 restrictions in multiple areas, including parts of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor State, July 3-16 /update 48

Event

Malaysian authorities plan to enhance restrictions in parts of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and Selangor State, July 3-16 due to COVID-19 activity. Officials will enforce enhanced movement control orders (EMCO), the strictest level of curbs, in several areas, including in the Ampang, Cheras, Damansara, Kajang, Klang, Petaling, Sepang, and Setapak sub-districts of Selangor. Affected areas of Kuala Lumpur will include the Bandar baru Sentul, Kampung Batu Muda, Kampung Padang Balang, and Kerinchi, Wangsa Maju areas. Under EMCO measures, residents may not leave their homes after 20:00 and may only leave to buy essential items. Factories producing essential goods may operate while restaurants and shops may operate 08:00-20:00. Most nonessential businesses are closed, and employees are required to work from home to the extent possible. Officials usually ban movement in and out of EMCO areas. Authorities will also impose EMCO restrictions in areas of Malacca, Pahang, Perak, and Sabah states July 3-16.

Officials continue to impose nationwide restrictions through to an undetermined date; the government is maintaining the measures until daily cases fall below 4,000. The country reported approximately 6,990 new cases on July 1. The ongoing restrictions, known as movement control orders (MCO), limit business activity and travel. On-site operations of nonessential sectors are suspended. Essential industries that may continue operating on-site include manufacturing essential goods, selected construction activities, essential government services, agriculture, utilities, and security services. Businesses that are allowed to operate on-site can open only from 08:00-20:00. Shopping malls are closed, except for supermarkets, food establishments, and other essential businesses. Only two people from each household can leave their residence at any one time, and individuals must stay within 10 km (6 miles) of their residence. While there is no nationwide curfew, the government has encouraged people to remain in their residence after 20:00 nightly.

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, respectively. 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