Transport Ministry: International cruises in M’sia will only resume when it is safe

GEORGE TOWN: It will take some time before international cruise ships call on Malaysian ports due to the advent of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The Transport Minister said that he would not speculate when this would happen, adding that other countries are taking a careful approach before allowing cruises.

“We stand guided by the Health Ministry regulations on the issue because of the Omicron virus and it is too premature to say when it will happen,” he said during a press conference on board Star Pisces, a Genting cruise liner at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) after launching the cruise on Thursday (Dec 23).

“What is most important is that the Health Ministry, National Security Council and Transport MInistry are working together on the matter,” he added.

Dr Wee also said he was impressed with the stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs) on board the Pisces where he was briefed on safety and preventive measures implemented at SPCT and the ship.

“I was personally screened and it is good to know that no one can board the ship if they are found to be carriers of the Covid-19 virus,” said Dr Wee.

“The first layer is to get through the RTK Antigen test, which is linked to MySejahtera. Without this, no one can get on board the ship, which is good,” he added.

Dr Wee also said that the Transport Ministry had been working hard with the Penang Port Commission, Penang Port Sdn Bhd and Cruise operators to prepare for the reopening of this sector.

Dr Wee added that this comes after approval by the National Security Council on Nov 24.

“We hope that the domestic cruise industry can continue to operate again as smoothly as possible and reactivate cruise as a tourism option for local travel and leisure,” said Dr Wee in a Facebook post on his official page on Thursday (Dec 23).

“We are also working hard to get the International cruise sector reopened as soon as it is safe to do so,” he added.

Dr Wee said that from Wednesday (Dec 22) to March 2022, SPCT will offer 58 cruises operating at 50% passenger capacity.

“This will accommodate roughly 47,000 passengers. Throughout 2022, 995 vessels are expected to carry about 660,318 people,” said Dr Wee.

He added that this would have a much-needed spillover economic effect to Penang’s small and medium businesses, taxi and e-hailing drivers, trishaws and restaurants.