At long last, the land border between Malaysia and Singapore at the Causeway and the Second Link will now be open for travellers between the two countries. This will take place on Monday, November 29, 2021, the same date that the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) will be open at KLIA and Changi Airport for travellers between the two countries.
However, those who can cross over for now will only be holders of long-term passes and those working in Johor or Malaysia. Under the VTL, only fully-vaccinated travellers can travel between both countries, and they must take a COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result. They will not be subjected to a quarantine or Stay-Home Notice. Hopefully, all other travellers will also be allowed to cross before long.
Entering Singapore
All VTL travellers must have been fully vaccinated and present a digital proof of vaccination that is recognised by the Singapore authorities. Short-term visitors must purchase travel insurance, with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 for COVID-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs, prior to travel to Singapore. These visitors must also use the TraceTogether app in Singapore to facilitate contact tracing.
Children aged 12 years and below who are not vaccinated will be allowed to travel under the VTL into Singapore if they are accompanied by a VTL traveller who meets all VTL requirements. VTL travellers must have remained only in one or more of the VTL countries, or a country/region in Category I of Singapore Ministry of Health’s Country/Region Classification for Border Measures in the last 14 consecutive days prior to departure to Singapore.
Visitors from Singapore
Travellers from Singapore do not need to apply to travel to Malaysia under the VTL since the entry facilities would be processed upon arrival and they are also not required to apply for a MyTravel Pass from the Malaysian Immigration authorities.
Short-term visitors, including business and official travellers, must obtain a valid visa for visa-required visitors and they must also possess a return ticket (if traveling by air) and travel insurance with a minimum coverage of RM100,000 for Covid-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs.
Click here for the latest information on entry requirements into Singapore.
The Movement Control Order (MCO) will be introduced again in Malaysia from January 13 and is set to run for 2 weeks until January 26 2021. Whether it will be extended will be decided at a later time. However, the MCO will not apply to every state and the strictest conditions will apply to Pulau Pinang, Selangor, WP Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan, Melaka, Johor dan Sabah.
Inter-district travel will not be permitted (there will be roadblocks) and the range of travel will be a maximum of 10 kms from the home. Only two persons from the same household can travel in the vehicle for the purpose of buying essentials or food.
Kedah, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu will be under CMCO, while Perlis and Sarawak will be under RMCO, during the same period.
During the MCO, employees of most sectors, except those in essential services, are required to work from home, but 30% of employees in a company (in the management category) are permitted to work in their office if they wish. Employers are allowed to determine those from a support group who can also come in to work.
Movement is limited and people are urged to remain at home as much as they can. However, as before, they can still travel to supermarkets and restaurants to buy essential items and food. Dine-in will not be permitted, so either pick up your orders or use a food delivery service. Hawkers will still be allowed to do business but in all cases, social distancing and other SOPs the public should be familiar with will apply. Please observe them.
As before, interstae travel will not be allowed and the maximum range for travel is 10 kms from the house to buy essential items or food.
Those who have special need to travel to hospitals or medical facilities may do so, and scheduled operations are still allowed to carry on. However, SOPs must be strictly observed.
Social activities in MCO states are banned, which means any event with public gatherings, including wedding receptions and group sport activities. Seminars and conferences are also not permitted. This means that Thaipusam festivities and processions are not allowed in all states, except for Perlis and Sarawak.
However, recognizing that being isolated at home could be detrimental for mental health, people are allowed to leave their houses to carry out recreational activities only with members of their households. If exercising, it is important to be at least 2 metres apart and if company is needed, only one other person should follow. Cyclists are also asked not to cycle in groups.
The country is still under various levels of the Movement Control Order (MCO) since it was introduced in March this year as a way to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. However, over the year, as the situation has changed, the conditions of the MCO have been varied and right now, with interstate travel being permitted again (except through Red Zones), many more vehicles are on the highways.
PLUS Malaysia Berhad expects a big increase in traffic volume on its highways over the next few days, especially as today is a holiday in Selangor (Sultan’s birthday). As the Klang Valley has the biggest vehicle population, it is expected that many may take the opportunity to travel to see relatives in kampungs, or just go on a long-missed holiday.
Plan your route, get help from PUTRI
The high volume of traffic may not be like the festive season periods but nevertheless, PLUS advises motorists to plan their journeys before departing. To do journey planning, they can check live highway CCTV feeds and consult PUTRI, a real-time customer texting interface to assist with any enquiries & feedback. Alternatively, they can also call the PLUSLINE 1-800-88-0000 or send an e-mail with their enquiry or feedback to customerfeedback@plus.com.my.
The concessionaire is prepared for the increased traffic but also hopes that motorists will cooperate by ensuring their Touch‘NGo cards and e-Wallets are sufficiently reloaded to minimize disruptions and need for physical interactions. There are over 13,000 locations nationwide to help highway customers reload their cards early.
RFID for quicker passage
For those travelling northwards, PLUS recommends that they set the auto-reload on their e-Wallets to facilitate a new, contactless experience via RFID, currently available as part of public pilot at the Sungai Dua – Hutan Kampung stretch of PLUS (in the northern region) as well as all Open System toll plazas nationwide.
Remember the SOPs
While there is freedom to travel longer distances and across borders, the Standard Operating Procedures must still be followed, meaning social distancing, use of facemasks, temperature checks and washing hands, among others. You would also be required to register in a record book or scan a QR code.
“PLUS is taking all necessary precautions to ensure our customers’ safety, comfort & convenience including at the Rest & Service Areas (R&R). I would like to appeal to all our customers to support PLUS’ efforts in ensuring compliance with all health and safety procedures throughout their journey by wearing face masks, maintaining physical distancing and practicing good personal hygiene. In order to promote safe physical distancing, we also recommend our customers to pre-order food and drinks using the PLUS mobile app,” said PLUS Managing Director, Datuk Azman Ismail.
Drive cautiously in rainy weather and have your lights on.
He also reminded motorists to be cautious and to practice safe driving at all times, especially as this is the season of rainy weather throughout the country. Having a bigger gap between vehicles and switching on headlights is recommended.
Finally, the restriction on interstate travel will end on June 9, coinciding with the ending of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) as scheduled. Announcing this today, the Prime Minister said that travel restrictions would only apply to areas which are under an Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO). These would be places which have a high number of COVID-19 cases and the authorities need to prevent further spread by limiting movement in and out of the areas.
From June 10 (Wednesday), the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) will replace the CMCO and Malaysians will be able to carry out almost all activities – including having their hair cut. Most economic sectors have been allowed to resume operations, along with the lifting of restrictions on most social, educational and religious activities (some in phases). The RMCO will run till August 31, 2020.
However, the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020, which gives legal power to enforce necessary actions remains in effect. It was gazetted on March 18 when the MCO started and provides for penalties for offences committed as well as the introduction of Standard Operating Procedures.
During the initial period of the MCO, roadblocks were set up around cities and towns to strictly enforce the movement restrictions.
As the situation showed signs of improving, some restrictions ended or were modified although interstate travel remained prohibited except for 4 days when those trapped in other towns when the MCO started were permitted to travel back to their places of residence.
Balik kampung for Hari Raya was prohibited
The prohibition on interstate travel was particularly frustrating as it was on during the Hari Raya festive period. The government made a firm decision to not allow the usual ‘balik kampung’ journeys and while most Malaysians complied, there were many who tried to sneak across borders. They were unwilling to understand that the prohibition was to prevent spread of the coronavirus, which some may have been infected with without knowing it.
Those who have missed their Sunday drives around the countryside can do so again without being stopped at roadblocks.
The freedom to drive anywhere in Malaysia again will certainly be welcome, especially for those who have missed their usual Sunday drives through the countryside. Perhaps this episode should also make us appreciate the freedom we have to do things which we enjoy, in safety. In some countries where there are wars, movements are limited and we have had a short experience of such a condition. Hopefully, we don’t have to go through it again.
Risk is less but threat remains
Meanwhile, the RCMO signals another phase towards normalizing life in Malaysia but it does not mean the threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus is gone. It is lessened but the risks are still there with 1,531 active cases. Failure to continue observing the recommended practices such as social distancing (minimum of 1 metre apart), washing hands frequently and using facemasks in crowded areas can result in transmission of the coronavirus. Anyone can be infected but it is the older folks who are at higher risk, as well as those already having certain health problems. COVID-19 is very vicious and those who are weak or with weak immune systems won’t be able to fight against it to recover.
As we move out of the CMCO, PISTON.MY would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the frontliners, especially those at hospitals, who have put themselves at risk in trying to help and treat infected patients. Let’s not waste their efforts and sacrifices. Now the responsibility to prevent a return of the pandemic in Malaysia is for all of us to take on and we should not become complacent.
Interstate travel restrictions will be eased from June 1, 2020 although the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) remains active. There had been a ban when the Movement Control Order MCO) started in March, and in the period leading to Hari Raya, the prohibition was strictly enforced. Balik kampung journeys were not permitted as a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Today, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, spokesman for the National Security Council, said that interstate travel can be allowed for emergency cases as well as for spouses to visit their other halves who may be in another state. The latter was already mentioned by the Prime Minister earlier.
Additionally, those who work in another state can also cross borders but in all cases, police approval must first be obtained. “Interstate travel is not allowed unless it is for emergencies such as deaths or for medical reasons. We also allow those who need to travel between states for work. For instance, if you live in Seremban but work in Putrajaya,” he said.
During the CMCO prohibition on interstate travel, the police have set up 147 roadblocks nationwide to check on vehicles. Over 240,000 drivers were queried and those without valid reasons were made to turn around. In some cases, summonses were also issued for not complying with the CMCO, for which there is a fine of RM1,000 and possible jail term of 6 months.
The police have also been looking out for those who crossed borders without permission during the Hari Raya period and are now trying to return home. Roadblocks have been set up even on rural roads and many motorists have been caught trying to sneak through.
On another note, the Director-General of the Ministry of Health has said that use of facemasks is recommended when in crowded places. However, when travelling alone in the car, it is unnecessary to wear the facemask.
Although things seem like they are back to ‘normal’, the CMCO is still active and people are expected to remain at home as much as possible. Gatherings and visiting friends are still not permitted and as you will probably have already experienced, social distancing is now a requirement at public outlets. The authorities urge those who dine at restaurants to complete their meal as soon as they can and depart, rather than stay on at the table to chat.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri (expected to fall on May 24) is approaching but this year, with the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to stop its spread, the government has declared that the traditional ‘balik kampung’ journeys cannot take place. There are great risks in allowing thousands to travel around the country as some may be carriers of the virus which has so far caused 114 deaths from almost 7,000 infected cases.
Malaysia is fortunate not to have the thousands of deaths that have occurred in some other countries and while the pandemic won’t completely end for some time, it is at least moderated to some extent in this country. That’s thanks, in a large part, to the hard work and sacrifices of the frontliners, especially those in hospitals.
Also helping to ‘flatten the curve’ of infections was the introduction of the Movement Control Order on March 18. The aim of the MCO is to cut the transmission of the virus by restricting contact and interaction among the population. Overnight, the country was virtually shut down as people were told to stay at home and the police and army were ordered to enforce the regulation strictly.
The MCO included a prohibition on interstate travel because it makes things more difficult to trace the movements of virus carriers who may bring it to their hometowns that might not have been affected in the first place. Contact-tracing is a crucial part of suppressing the spread as people who have been in contact with the carrier will be quarantined so they do not pass it on to others.
The prohibition on interstate travel is still on and the only exception was during four days recently when special permission was given to allow those who had been trapped in other places to return to their homes in other states. And that too required application and approval by the police who checked for valid reasons. Other than that, only in emergency cases will permission be granted, and the police are firm on this.
On many occasions, announcements have been made to remind people that they should not make any ‘balik kampung’ trips. By now, no Malaysian should be unaware of this restriction and yet, it appears that there are people who are desperate to travel to their hometowns. But there are roadblocks and if they have no authorization letter, they will be made to turn around. If they make things difficult, they could also get charged for not complying with the MCO which carries a RM1,000 fine and/or a jail term.
In fact, the police have reported the number of people trying to cross state lines increasing and they must be getting fed up with such law-breakers. Now they have announced that they will also be conducting checks in certain areas where there are many vehicles outside homes (a sign that may suggest many returnees) and owners of vehicles with registration plates from other states. It is an unnecessary waste of time as they have many other more important duties to carry out.
According to the Health Ministry, around 14% (971) of the total number of Covid-19 cases have a history of inter-state travel, meaning the infected persons brought the virus from one state to another. “About 18 clusters, from a total of 48 clusters recorded in the country, are linked to activities which involved crossing state borders. Ten of these clusters are still active,” said the Director-General at the Ministry of Health, Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, who is troubled by the number.
The implications of carrying the virus to the homes of parents or relatives in another state just don’t seem to be understood enough. It is known that older people are more vulnerable and can be seriously affected by the virus. It is known that there are some people who may not show symptoms of the virus immediately but they are already spreading it. If these senseless people who insist on going to the homes of their elders cause them to be infected and die, how will they ever live with that?
Yes, it is understandable that the family should be together on Hari Raya but these are extraordinary circumstances and as many say, there will still be other years to celebrate together. Carry the virus home and you may never celebrate with some of those loved ones again.
As Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham has warned, unless there is good compliance with the MCO/CMCO, the restrictions will have to remain in place. In the eyes of the Health Ministry, there is still a lot of non-compliance when so many are trying to ‘balik kampung’ even though they are not allowed to. Because of these people, the rest of us have to continue to endure restricted movements. Please do not be selfish and just stay in your state.
Today is the final day of the special exercise under Gerak Malaysia which has allowed those stuck in other places during the Movement Control Order (MCO) to return to their homes. The MCO, now changed to Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), forbids interstate travel but a special one-time provision was made from May 7 to 10 to allow such travel.
Over 500,000 applications were received by the police via the Gerak Malaysia mobile app for approval to do interstate travel. Of this number, by the time the exercise started, there were 226,181 approvals given to motorists in all the states in Peninsular Malaysia. A schedule was prepared with travellers from different states designated specific days during the 4-day period.
Traffic flow has been smooth, and no incidents were reported. However, the police set up a number of roadblocks along the highways to conduct checks. The QR code that was sent to the applicants had to be shown to allow them to continue their journey.
No more interstate travel after midnight today
The interstate travel ends at midnight tonight for the last batch of travellers from Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Terengganu. However, applications can still be made via the Gerak Malaysia app (or at police stations) for consideration in special cases (eg to attend a funeral) , including work reasons. The Prime Minister today also said that for married couples where the husband and wife are working in different states, permission can also be granted for travel.
However, unauthorised movements across state lines are not permitted and the usual balik kampung journey is not allowed. Nevertheless, things have been relaxed it was also announced today – along with the extension of the CMCO for another four weeks – that visits to homes during Hari Raya will be permitted as long as they are within the same state. Visitors should not number more than 20 at a time and practices such as social distancing (1 metre apart) and use of face masks are expected. Providing hand sanitizers for guests would also be a good idea although many people carry their own nowadays.
As more businesses and industries have been allowed to resume operations, traffic volumes have been rising with people going to work daily.
Gradual relaxation of regulations
The regulations under the CMCO have been gradually relaxed and with many businesses allowed to resume operations at full capacity, traffic volumes on the roads have increased. There is no longer a 10-km limit to travel distance except for areas under the Enhanced MCO where movement in or out is strictly not permitted.
Up to 4 persons are allowed to travel in a private vehicle provided they are from the same house. When the MCO was introduced originally, only one person was allowed in the vehicle. With the current ruling, it makes things easier for people, especially those who may require assistance from others when buying food or other things. It is also beneficial to couples who have been sharing a car to go to work; prior to this change, it was suggested that one person use public transport which incurred extra cost daily at a time when many face financial challenges.
The new ‘normal’ at Honda dealerships where Standard Operating Procedures are followed.
Car companies re-open outlets
Most car companies have received approval from MITI to resume operations and are progressively doing so. They are required to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the protection of their customers as well as staff so things will be different now. Some service centres report an influx of vehicles as they have been overdue for scheduled servicing. Owners are asked to call first to make an appointment and walk-ins will not be entertained. Measures such as social distancing and contactless transactions are carried out at public areas.
At petrol stations, measures to prevent virus spread include regular disinfecting of touchpoints.
The extension of the CMCO until June 9, 2020 may be greeted with dismay by many. Understandably, everyone wants things to get back to normal and the end of the CMCO would signal that. Unfortunately, ‘normal’ is not going to be the same as before and even though the number of persons infected with COVID-19 may decrease, the threat remains and the public must continue to be on guard and be responsible enough to follow the measures recommended by the Health Ministry.
Tomorrow will see the beginning of the special exercise to permit people who have been stuck in other places to return to their homes in the cities. It’s a 4-day exercise with specific days for travelers from different states. It is only for those who want to return to their homes, and not for enjoying a long drive because interstate travel is still officially forbidden under the Movement Control Order (MCO).
To ensure people do not abuse the allowance to travel, there will be roadblocks along the highways and checks will be made on motorists. Although the police had earlier said that there is no need to wait for an approval message after submitting their application via the Gerak Malaysia mobile app, they now say that a QR code wil be sent after submission of particulars through the app. This QR code can then be quickly scanned at roadblocks to verify the person’s details.
The police also say that the mobile app must be updated to a new version. This means that information, especially the town origin and destination, must be entered again. After this is done, the QR code will be sent which signifies approval for travel. So be sure to do this tonight.
For those who have no smartphone access, they can get a document from a police station to verify their travel plans, and this can be shown at roadblocks.
While the exercise is for those wishing to return home, we understand that there are also provisions for 2-way trips. These are cases where, for example, a parent may have to go to another town to fetch children from grandparents’ homes to bring them back. All family members aged 16 years and older must submit their details separately via the app.
The schedule of travel for the 4 days starting from May 7 as follow:
May 7 (Thursday): travel permitted from Kuala Lumpur to other states.
May 8 (Friday): travel permitted from the states of Perak, Johor and Kelantan.
May 9 (Saturday): travel permitted from Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Melaka and Pahang.
May 10 (Sunday): travel permitted from Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu.
Remember that the R&R facilities are closed, except for the toilets, so bring along essentials. Nevertheless, you can still pick up stuff at petrol stations and reload your toll card if necessary. Should you stop along the way, be sure to observe social distancing and not gather in groups, which is not allowed during the MCO.
After confirming that interstate travel will be permitted for those who wish to return to their homes in cities after being trapped since March 18, the police have now released the schedule of travel for the 4 days starting from May 7 as follow:
May 7 (Thursday): travel permitted from Kuala Lumpur to other states.
May 8 (Friday): travel permitted from the states of Perak, Johor and Kelantan.
May 9 (Saturday): travel permitted from Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Melaka and Pahang.
May 10 (Sunday): travel permitted from Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu.
The scheduling has been done to avoid congestion on the roads. By staggering the movement of vehicles, traffic flow is expected to be smoother.
To date, over 500,000 applications for travel were submitted via the Gerak Malaysia mobile app as well as at police stations (for those who did not have access to the internet). Only those who are 16 years old or older can make the application.
No approval message to be issued
It was clarified that following the application, which must have all the details required provided, there will be no document or message to confirm approval. Travelers can proceed and should they be stopped at roadblocks along the way, the police will refer to the Gerak Malaysia database which should have their details.
The purpose of allowing interstate travel during the four days is to enable people to return to their homes if they have been stuck elsewhere. With businesses starting to resume operations, there will be many who need to report to their workplaces so they need to get home.
This exercise is not for those who have no approval so don’t try to sneak a drive out in the countryside. If you are stopped and cannot give a valid reason for being on the road, you will be charged for breaching the Movement Control Order (MCO). That can mean a RM1,000 fine and/or time in jail.
Observe social distancing
Travelers are advised not to gather in groups if they stop along the way and to practice social distancing. This means that they should be at least a metre apart. Unlike some other countries, there is no mandatory requirement in Malaysia to use a face mask when outside the home. However, it would be a good idea to use one and help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Remember that besides the MCO, all other regulations related to motorists and motor vehicles are still in force! So be sure to observe the speed limits and do not drive along the emergency lanes. If your journey is a long one, take a break every few hours at a R&R so as not to lose concentration due to tiredness.
