Balik Kampung: SOP Reminders For Raya

Ramadan is coming to a close, and that means Raya Aidilfitri is around the corner! With Malaysia reopening its borders once more on April 1, 2022, it is not just domestic travellers who will be returning to their hometowns, but international ones too.

While the nation is getting into the festive mood, it is important to keep in mind that COVID-19 is still at large. As such, it would be best to play safe and continue to adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) as we travel and celebrate.

For the most part, the basic SOP rules still apply. These include:

• Continue to wear face masks in public spaces
• Maintain hand cleanliness
• Utilise the MySejahtera app before entering premises
• Ensure social distancing measures
• Ensure good ventilation and clean premises
• Adhere to vaccination requirements for certain activities

Entry into Malaysia

For international travellers who wish to enter Malaysia during the festive season, the latest travel regulations are as follows:

• Download and update the MySejahtera app within a week before departing for Malaysia
• Complete the pre-departure form via the “Traveller” icon
  • Travellers with overseas-issued COVID-19 vaccine documentation must verify their digital COVID-19 vaccine certificates via mysafetravel.gov.my
  • Foreign travellers are required to purchase COVID-19 medical insurance with a minimum value of USD 20,000
  • Fully vaccinated travellers will be issued a “Digital Traveller’s Card” which can be accessed via the MySejahtera app
  • Partially or unvaccinated travellers will be issued a digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO) and it will be reflected on their MySejahtera app
  • Travellers who do not have a traveller card display or HSO instructions on MySejahtera app are not allowed to continue their journey
• Travellers aged seven years and above must take a RT-PCR test within two days before departure to Malaysia and upload the results on MySejahtera. Exceptions are given to travellers aged 6 years and below
• Post COVID-19 patients with infection between six to 60 days before departure must undergo a professional RTK-Antigen test two days before departure
• Upon arrival, passengers aged seven years and above are required to take a professionally administered RTK-Antigen test either at a private health facility or clinics approved by the MOH within 24 hours

Sarawak

For entry in Sarawak, travellers must adhere to the following procedures:

• International travellers including transit passengers into Sarawak via KLIA must follow Malaysia’s entry requirements
• International travellers with transits either in Kuala Lumpur or Sarawak need to undergo COVID-19 RTK-Ag test at the first port of arrival
• Those tested negative and do not have the ‘Travellers Card’ or ‘Home Surveillance Order’ on their MySejahtera profile status will be allowed to continue their journey to Sarawak
• Partially or unvaccinated travellers of age under 18 years who are travelling alone will be required to undergo quarantine. Meanwhile those travelling with parents will depends on parents’ vaccination status

Sabah

Travellers heading to Sabah will have to follow a similar set of procedures:

• International travellers into Sabah via KLIA must follow Malaysia’s entry requirements. Please refer to here for detailed information
• International passengers transiting in KLIA to Sabah (except to Kota Kinabalu) must undergo COVID-19 RTK-Ag test in KLIA. Passengers to Kota Kinabalu must undergo COVID-19 RTK-Ag test upon arrival at the destination’s airport before immigration clearance
• International passengers below 18 years are exempted from quarantine, regardless of vaccination status, unless detected positive COVID-19 upon arrival

Special provisions for travel to/from Singapore

With the nation reopening its borders, many Malaysians will likely be travelling to and from Singapore in order to visit family and friends during the coming festive season. As such, certain special protocols have been established:

• Fully vaccinated travellers must undergo a COVID-19 RT-PCR test two days prior to their journey
• Travellers are required to download the contact tracing app, MySejahtera into their mobile phone/gadget and complete the pre-departure information in the “Traveller” form, such as health declarations and the negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test results
• Travellers are exempted from quarantine
• Travellers do not need to undergo any COVID-19 test upon arrival

While Malaysia moves towards an endemic phase of COVID-19, it would do well to keep in mind that the pandemic is still a rather virulent threat that can spread widely if we are not cautious. As such, please take care and continue to adhere to SOPs so that we may celebrate a safe and joyous Hari Raya Aidilfitri!