PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has assured the public that there will be an immediate announcement on allowing interstate travel once 90% of the country’s adult population is fully vaccinated.
Ismail Sabri said the impact from the movement control orders had heavily impacted the tourism sector.
As such, he said so long as interstate travel is not allowed, the tourism sector could not start.
"I believe that many people want to 'balik kampung'. There are some people who have not seen their parents for more than a year. There are also those whose parents are not well. I know when my late mother was still alive, if I did not go home for a week or two, she would be crying when she called me.
"So, I know there are many who are in the same situation that I had faced in the past. We understand but because of health reasons, we had to restrict the movement of people," he said in an exclusive interview broadcast on Sunday (Oct 3) night.
Ismail Sabri assured the public that people's movements will not be restricted forever.
"I have announced that if 90% of the population have received two doses, we will then allow for interstate travel. Today, I believe it has reached 86% or 87%. Last Wednesday, it was 85.5%. I believe in four to five days, (this number) will increase again.
"I believe that the time for interstate travel is coming closer. I will immediately announce that interstate travel is allowed when the vaccination rate reaches 90%," he said.
Ismail Sabri explained the rationale for changing the vaccination rate from 80% to 90%.
He said that when the vaccination rates were only at 80%, there were other states that had low vaccination rates.
As such, he said he did not want for the other states to be left behind.
"I believe when it reaches 90%, every state will have a vaccination rate that is more than 80%," he said.
Ismail Sabri also said the MyTravelPass will no longer be used and Malaysians will be allowed to travel freely without having to apply for the pass once the 90% vaccination rate has been achieved.
