6 days of Covid tests scrapped for some international travellers

Travellers arriving in Malaysia from abroad through various programmes will not be required to undergo six days of Covid-19 tests upon arrival, effective March 3.

In a statement, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the new procedure would apply to travellers entering Malaysia through the air and land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) programme between Malaysia and Singapore, the Langkawi International Tourism Bubble (LITB) and the One-Stop Centre (OSC) for short-term business visitors.

The health ministry dropped the requirement for a Covid-19 RTK-Ag test on the second, fourth and sixth day for travellers arriving in Malaysia under the three categories.

He said the health ministry had also dropped the requirement to undergo a Covid-19 RT-PCR or RTK-Ag (professional) test for travellers arriving in Malaysia under the LITB programme before leaving Langkawi island.

Khairy said his ministry had also dropped the rule requiring RTK-Ag self-testing for travellers arriving from the UK, which previously had to be done on a daily basis throughout the quarantine period.

Also lifted was the need for a liaison officer for short-term business travellers under the Malaysian Investment Development Authority who use OSC facilities to enter Malaysia.

“However, they need to follow the controlled itinerary issued and approved by the OSC committee,” Khairy said.

“The Covid-19 test which needs to be conducted two days before departure to Malaysia and upon arrival in Malaysia is still maintained as per the existing protocol.

“I would like to emphasise once again that this new procedure only applies to travellers who enter Malaysia through the VTL, LITB and OSC programmes,” he said.

For travellers who do not enter Malaysia through the three programmes, the existing SOPs and protocols remain in effect.