Travelling to Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan? Here Are the New Rules
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Senior Minister for Security, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, announced that travellers to Sabah and Labuan need to undergo a swab test three days before they depart. Those who tested negative and without symptoms do not need to undergo quarantine once they arrive.
The Sarawak government has stricter travel rules. Travellers heading to Sarawak will need to go for a swab test three days before they depart and also undergo 14 days of quarantine after they arrive.
Meanwhile, travellers hailing from Sabah, Labuan, or Sarawak entering Peninsula Malaysia will not need to go for swab tests nor quarantine. The minister said individuals must first obtain police permission, and only those testing negative without symptoms can travel.
Those who are from Sarawak heading to Sabah and Labuan need to take a swab test but are not obligated to quarantine after arrival.
Ismail said the Sarawak state government would cover quarantine and swab test costs for Sarawakians only, while travellers from other states need to bear their own costs. The minister said these new rules are according to the terms and conditions set by the Sarawak and Sabah state governments.
He also said the ban on interstate travel nationwide will stay, while travelling across districts is permitted nationwide, except for Sabah.
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Those who are travelling to Sarawak must undergo swab tests and quarantine after they arrive.
Malaysian Employers Federation's (MEF) comment on new travel rules
The MEF said that variations between states in the travel rules fixing are confusing for business travellers.
MEF's executive director, Shamsuddin Bardan, said that it would be a "nightmare" for international businessmen who need to travel to the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak. He also called for the standardisation of the rules.
Shamsuddin said that travel rules should be based on scientific data and facts on the current COVID-19 pandemic situation.
He noted that the 14-day quarantine requirement for the travellers was "too restrictive" and would slow down efforts to help businesses recover. According to him, most business personnel will not travel to Sarawak for now as they prefer to wait for the restriction to be lifted.
Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (MICCI) comment
The executive director of MICCI, Shaun Cheah, acknowledged that the variations in travel requirements could be a nuisance, but he stated that businesses were highly adaptable. He added that as long as the government allows for interstate travel, it will be good for business.
Cheah claims that businesses were trying to deal with a more severe issue: the conflicts in Putrajaya, state governments, and local councils' regulations.
He provided an example, the international trade and industry ministry might give a company with the licence to operate a factory, but the state government would only allow the factory to be built in a specific area. Yet, when the factory is built at the agreed location, the local council might decline to issue an operating licence.
Cheah stated that such contradictions were causing dissatisfaction among foreign investors. He suggested that the government discuss with stakeholders before declaring new standard operating procedures or policies.
Sources: FMT and Malay Mail
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