Separate SOP for land and air travel announced ahead of April 1 border reopening

PETALING JAYA: With Malaysia's borders opening from April 1 onwards, let us look at the different standard operating procedures (SOP) for travellers from different countries, as well as when they are arriving by air or land travel.

Travellers should note that there are two separate SOP for land and air travel.

The land travel SOP is all based on agreements worked out between Malaysia and the respective countries.

Singapore-Malaysia land travel has the least restrictions, as travellers, if fully vaccinated, are not required to quarantine, buy travel insurance or perform a pre-departure Covid-19 test.

Those partially vaccinated or unvaccinated will need travel insurance and observe a five-day quarantine after arrival.

For those travelling by air from Singapore, a pre-departure test is required two days in advance for both fully vaccinated and partially or unvaccinated travellers.

Those fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine or have travel insurance.

Those partially vaccinated or unvaccinated will need travel insurance and observe a five-day quarantine after arrival.

The Malaysia and Thailand governments had also agreed to allow tourists to travel via land through the Bukit Kayu Hitam and Wang Kelian checkpoints in Kedah and Perlis from April 1, with discussions to open other entry points still ongoing.

As for land travel with neighbours Indonesia and Brunei, a reciprocal arrangement had not been reached yet.

For international arrivals via flight, one has to take a pre-departure test two days prior and take a supervised RTK-Ag test within 24 hours of arrival.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said on Facebook Tuesday (March 29) that although fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival, there are still some steps they need to take.

They need to download the MySejahtera app and register an account before entering Malaysia.

Then, tap on the Travel icon and fill up the pre-departure form.

Next, take an RT-PCR test within two days of departure and travel only if you test negative.

For short-term foreign visitors, Khairy said they are also required to have Covid-19 travel insurance.

He said once all is done, the vaccination certificate can be verified at mysafetravel.gov.my portal.