RedApe

A couple of articles and links regarding the Malaysian Government's New Policy for Returning Malaysia My Second Home, Spousal Visa Holders, Malaysian Citizens and PR's..and interstate travel for other groups.

https://www.theborneopost.com/2021/0...SdTWLyatE1f22c

https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/5863...Mhj1MFshHiXUsI

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia...ZAqYnxD_rdXDeg

Still some questions as to precisely the procedure of submitting the prof of vaccination, what criteria will be issued as to how long the home quarantine will be, etc. But this is generally good news.

RedApe

Requirements and SOPs for Home Quarantine Fully Vaccinated Returnees with MM2H, PR, or other visa or Malaysian Citizens
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...5548374&type=3

SushiFan

Thanks for sharing those articles. What these don't mention though is whether one needs approval from the Malaysian government before boarding a flight to Malaysia (MyTravelPass). My guess is that this requirement still remains, and thus that several countries remain being blacklisted.

Epicurious

For those MM2H holders already in Malaysia, I imagine we still need permission to leave the country and re-enter, and will have to have a very good reason for doing so.

RedApe

Given that one needs to provide various documents in advance of arrival I(in the SOP) and the costs to airlines on individuals being rejected at immigration...I would imagine that the MyTravelPass requirement still exists. In my view that's reasonable and prevents someone from a major expense of travel only to be told that their vaccination or PCR test is not appropriate.

As too the 23 country rule...I never understood the logic of that as over 60 countries have exceeded the 150K infection threshold (including Malaysia), it was biased against large countries (i.e. should have been per capita), and didn't clearly state if the restriction was against nationals holding a passport FROM that country, or if it applied to travel FROM those countries. Also states with downturn or low levels of infection currently are still on the list...once on there is no way off. I do know of many people from nations that were on the blacklist have been admitted after demonstrating full vaccination status and PCR test...but they did have to go through quarantine.

In any case there is no mention that there will be restriction based on the national infection level (and doesn't mention that they will deny entry based on that) so perhaps the new policy overrides the old?

RedApe

They don't seem to have publicly changed that restriction. But maybe the policy here alsom means full vaccination will influence permission to return. After all, since anyone can leave (the major issue was RETURN)...and you have fully vaccinated status and others can return (with home QT) it seems that this would no longer be a limitation. Remember that this change was a recommendation approved by the MOH and the MOH is the one that recommends the Travel Pass. If you are in Malaysia its best to have a document that you will be allowed to return. Just be careful if granted permission as you don't want to let your vaccine protection to wane and to get Covid (and a positive PCR antigen test).

Epicurious

All good points, RedApe. I think the best we can say at the moment is that the rules and procedures are rather unclear, but it's early days for the new policy for vaccinated people. If anyone has experience of going abroad and returning to Malaysia, kindly report back. I won't be getting on a plane until quarantine is not compulsory (yes, I realize that may be a very long way off).

Epicurious

Immigration Dept says long-term visit pass holders do not need clearance to enter Malaysia from Nov 1
Quarantine will still be required.

eCdD

Since a couple of weeks the system has been changed. Now the completely useless state health authorities are not in charge of the vaccination abroad thing, it all runs to the mysejahtera where you fill out a form and upload your vaccination documents. And a few days later "FULLY VACCINATED" pops up in the app.

The country blacklist is already completely gone for some time as far as I know. The last countries on the blacklist were India, Bangladesh and a few others (but no EU countries), but these people also can travel to Malaysia meanwhile.

Also the home quarantine system has been changed already. No more sending email to MOH@..., it is a online system now also that works quite well as I have heard.

eCdD

I had this experience in the "old times" with the MTP and the E-mail-HQ-System. It was horrible not to know if you get approval for HQ as hotel quarantine is no option for most. Approval for HQ constantly came only a couple of hours before the flight, for foreigners as well as for Malaysians.

The validity of the MTP was 90 days, so if you can not make it back during these 90 days, then things probably get difficult.

But if you make it back to KLIA, from this point everything was surprisingly smooth. Anyway if it is not a must to go somewhere to do something I would not go now. Even it is obviously all more relaxed than in the months before.

WiredTight

If your Point of Entry (immigration) is KLIA (#1), but you ultimate destination is Penang (KLIA #2)...how is this handled ???
I would like to think once your paper work is approved at Immigration, you are then allowed to transit to KLIA 2 (escorted ???) and then you await your follow-on connection flight, and then you "Hopefully" do your Home-quarantine or a gov't hotel in Penang ???
Or...since your immigration point is KL, but your destination is one more step down the road, are you Quarantined at a gov't hotel in KLIA area, and then carry on once your 7 days is completed ???
I really don't want to do a 7 day hotel Quarantine at a gpv't approved hotel. I think I read a news article that said the quarantine requirement might go away come December ???

SushiFan

Lately things are changing quickly. However, until very recent at least, is it not allowed to transfer at KLIA to a flight to Penang. As KLIA is your point of entry into Malaysia you'd have to do your quarantine there. But, there are specialized taxi services (with government permit) to ferry you from KLIA to your home in Penang if your home quarantine is approved. Those taxi drivers are then wearing a full PPE uniform. And this service does not come cheap (I think approximately RM750, one way). Alternatively you can find a flight where your point of entry is Penang. For example: fly to Singapore and then transfer to a flight to Penang.
I didn't read a newspaper article speculating about when quarantine will be abolished.
There might be a third path coming available: Langkawi will be opened for foreign tourists. Those tourists don't need to do quarantine, but need to do a PCR test before arrival and on day #5 of their stay. I wonder what would happen after day #5? Are those tourists allowed to travel within Malaysia? If so, you could consider to stay in Langkawi as alternative for either home or hotel quarantine.

eCdD

Best way is to park your car at KLIA (if it is a short trip) or to ask a friend to bring your car to KLIA and hand-over the keys. Before it was certainly not allowed that this friend than drives with you but I heard it is not so strict now and there are cases where people have been allowed to be picked up by (fully vaccinated) family members.

You better wait. These quarantine hotels are so unbelievable expensive (with all the crazy extra fees) and there is no guarantee that you get approval for home quarantine. Actually the approval probably is no problem, the problem is to get it in time for your flight. Overall it is a big big hassle even everything goes right, I would avoid it if it is not absolutely necessary.

WiredTight

SushiFan,
Thanks for clearing up a couple What If questions. I was a bit surprised after mixing and matching a couple flights, that flying via Singapore isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be ($$$ and Layover).

WiredTight

eCdD,
Just curious...did they limit the amount of Alcoholic beverages, or other food to make the quarantine move along faster ??? LOL.