Asserting that ‘prevention is better than cure,’ Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) has announced a number of measures to curb and contain the spread of novel coronavirus, including the temporary closure of several key tourism offices. In addition, the nation will expand its list of countries that are barred from entering.
On Saturday (14/3), Malaysia officially banned international arrivals from Denmark, following the country’s own lockdown due to an escalation in the pandemic within its borders. Denmark has become the fourth country to be barred from entry to Malaysia, joining Iran, Italy and South Korea.
Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof, from the Prime Minister’s Special Functions Department, has confirmed the travel ban will also affect visitors to Malaysia who have recently transited in the afore-mentioned countries.
“They are also prohibited from making transits at any entrance in Malaysia,” said the minister. “Malaysians, permanent residents and those holding long-term social visit pass arrived from Denmark will have to be home-quarantined for 14 days,” he added. The minister went on to suggest that more countries may yet be added to the travel ban list, depending on how the situation unfolds.
Within Malaysia itself, all counters at the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) centre on levels two and 10 of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture building, will be closed until 30th April, as part of the Covid-19 preventive measures, according to a government statement today. In a statement today, the government said the decision was made because the majority of visitors to the centre were foreign nationals.
“This measure is also important in reducing the probability of MM2H personnel being infected with the virus by foreign visitors,” said Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who is Malaysia’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture. “The reopening of the counters will be announced later,” she said, adding that her ministry was committed to dealing with the spread of the Covid-19 infection. The closures will be in place at least until 30th April 2020.
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