MM2Hers stuck outside
#61
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 284
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
#62
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2018
Location: KL & Bangkok
Posts: 52
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
This makes no sense whatsoever - though I’m unsurprised as it’s par for the course from Sabri. It takes no account of the present rates of infection, only the historical number of reported cases which penalises those countries which have tested the most.
To put the icing on the cake that Malaysian citizens from these same “high risk” countries only need quarantine shows the real motivation. Like other countries in the region - blame foreigners.
To put the icing on the cake that Malaysian citizens from these same “high risk” countries only need quarantine shows the real motivation. Like other countries in the region - blame foreigners.
#63
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Kuching, Sarawak
Posts: 674
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
Yes "big"countries will have higher infection numbers if they have the same rates. In fact the small country may have four or five times the infection rate and yet not be banned. Obviously the greater risk of a traveller having SARS Co-2 i the smaller country with lower infection numbers.
Yes...some countries had huge outbreaks initially and responded by introducing hard measures. They got their infection rates under control; and now have low rates. Other countries may be just on the upslope of their infection doubling rate (R > 1). The higher risk would not be the country with the higher numbers....it would be the one with the higher spread rate and CURRENT infection numbers.
And Yes...countries that test are going to have, all things being equal...higher numbers than a country that isn't testing. The different is that the country that tests nearly everyone will be finding the asymptomatic spreaders, quarantining or hospitalizing them, and taking measures to protect further spread. Countries that are not testing sufficiently because they don't have the resources, or because they don't want to be cut off from the rest of the world, or because their leader has minimized the pandemic as a "fraud"...those countries are much more dangerous.
The question that Malaysia must ask is a quite simple one..."Does this person have a higher risk of being infected CURRENTLY than others".
That risk has nothing to do with what country their passport is from, their race, their age. It does relate to which countries they have recently passed through, how long ago, how long they stayed, the infection rate when they were there, and perhaps regional differences in their movements. There could also be issues that relate to personal activities. Were they in a high contact profession with those who were ill? Do they work or participate in activities where social distancing is not obeyed? Students, in shared dorms in an area with high Covid-19 spread is likely to be a person at high risk. Someone on a farm in Devon, not so much. So answering that question above is much more complicated.
I tend to think that the authorities are easily driven by news stories and not a little prejudice. I can't think how many times I've heard people howl about Indians and Bangladeshis and Chinese and Honkies. There were a lot more stories in the Malaysian media about the outbreaks in Australia and New Zealand than those in Indonesia and the Philippines. Really, New Zealand...because there was a recent outbreak in one family that produced 8 positives after over 3 months of no cases? This was a case of the right wing trying to slap down "Little Miss Socialist" than a serious issue in New Zealand...which has tested one-fifth of their five million population. While New Zealand had high rates initially (Total cases 1759) they dropped down quickly to nearly zero.
One means of figuring out the infection rate in a country that isn't testing is to use collective statistics of the test results of entrants (including your own returning nationals) coming from another country. Thus look at all the positive vs. negative tests of those coming from Indonesia, India, France or the UK.
Rather than testing those expressing symptoms or their contacts...this method is somewhat a random sample of those who might be traveling and coming into countries. Share that data to all countries. So even if a country is doing no testing you will get a good idea of the risk...of both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.
In addition they need to share that information back to the home country in greater detail. Lets say you have students from one particular school returning home from Yemen (which is not testing anyone but the most seriously ill). If you detect a positive just one student from a particular country and school it might not indicate anything to the tester. But if the same pattern recurs in students returning to Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, etc. Same school high rate of positivity...that's an indication of a hot-spot. You'd then want to test all students from that school again in case of false negatives. The same might be true of one guest house in Spain, or a safari operation in Kenya. Then you'd want to have the home country quarantine these sites, get their employee and guest lists and test everyone. That's how international cooperation should be used.
But large-scale bans like this are sort of like trying to kill gnats in a mirror shop with a sledgehammer.
Yes...some countries had huge outbreaks initially and responded by introducing hard measures. They got their infection rates under control; and now have low rates. Other countries may be just on the upslope of their infection doubling rate (R > 1). The higher risk would not be the country with the higher numbers....it would be the one with the higher spread rate and CURRENT infection numbers.
And Yes...countries that test are going to have, all things being equal...higher numbers than a country that isn't testing. The different is that the country that tests nearly everyone will be finding the asymptomatic spreaders, quarantining or hospitalizing them, and taking measures to protect further spread. Countries that are not testing sufficiently because they don't have the resources, or because they don't want to be cut off from the rest of the world, or because their leader has minimized the pandemic as a "fraud"...those countries are much more dangerous.
The question that Malaysia must ask is a quite simple one..."Does this person have a higher risk of being infected CURRENTLY than others".
That risk has nothing to do with what country their passport is from, their race, their age. It does relate to which countries they have recently passed through, how long ago, how long they stayed, the infection rate when they were there, and perhaps regional differences in their movements. There could also be issues that relate to personal activities. Were they in a high contact profession with those who were ill? Do they work or participate in activities where social distancing is not obeyed? Students, in shared dorms in an area with high Covid-19 spread is likely to be a person at high risk. Someone on a farm in Devon, not so much. So answering that question above is much more complicated.
I tend to think that the authorities are easily driven by news stories and not a little prejudice. I can't think how many times I've heard people howl about Indians and Bangladeshis and Chinese and Honkies. There were a lot more stories in the Malaysian media about the outbreaks in Australia and New Zealand than those in Indonesia and the Philippines. Really, New Zealand...because there was a recent outbreak in one family that produced 8 positives after over 3 months of no cases? This was a case of the right wing trying to slap down "Little Miss Socialist" than a serious issue in New Zealand...which has tested one-fifth of their five million population. While New Zealand had high rates initially (Total cases 1759) they dropped down quickly to nearly zero.
One means of figuring out the infection rate in a country that isn't testing is to use collective statistics of the test results of entrants (including your own returning nationals) coming from another country. Thus look at all the positive vs. negative tests of those coming from Indonesia, India, France or the UK.
Rather than testing those expressing symptoms or their contacts...this method is somewhat a random sample of those who might be traveling and coming into countries. Share that data to all countries. So even if a country is doing no testing you will get a good idea of the risk...of both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.
In addition they need to share that information back to the home country in greater detail. Lets say you have students from one particular school returning home from Yemen (which is not testing anyone but the most seriously ill). If you detect a positive just one student from a particular country and school it might not indicate anything to the tester. But if the same pattern recurs in students returning to Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, etc. Same school high rate of positivity...that's an indication of a hot-spot. You'd then want to test all students from that school again in case of false negatives. The same might be true of one guest house in Spain, or a safari operation in Kenya. Then you'd want to have the home country quarantine these sites, get their employee and guest lists and test everyone. That's how international cooperation should be used.
But large-scale bans like this are sort of like trying to kill gnats in a mirror shop with a sledgehammer.
#64
womble
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,675
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
This makes no sense whatsoever - though I’m unsurprised as it’s par for the course from Sabri. It takes no account of the present rates of infection, only the historical number of reported cases which penalises those countries which have tested the most.
To put the icing on the cake that Malaysian citizens from these same “high risk” countries only need quarantine shows the real motivation. Like other countries in the region - blame foreigners.
To put the icing on the cake that Malaysian citizens from these same “high risk” countries only need quarantine shows the real motivation. Like other countries in the region - blame foreigners.
Those few that are given permission to leave and return, just like foreigners, have to demonstrate its for a short period of time, and is for emergency purposes only.
Basically the message given is pick a base, and stay there until this is over.
#65
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2016
Location: Penang - Chiangmai
Posts: 90
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
"The Health Ministry would be announcing the details on countries which have recorded more than 150,000 positive cases of Covid-19 later".
I guess I'm still holding out they will publish some type of list that covers "exceptions" for Emergency reasons to leave the country, and then not being locked out.
I guess I'm still holding out they will publish some type of list that covers "exceptions" for Emergency reasons to leave the country, and then not being locked out.
#66
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 284
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
Entry ban relaxed on expats, professional visit pass-holders from 23 countries
This doesn't seem to include MM2H holders.
PUTRAJAYA: Expatriates and professional visit pass-holders from the 23 countries in the enforced entry ban list drawn up by Malaysia are now allowed to enter the country.Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said a special Cabinet committee had decided to slightly relax the regulation enforced on Sept 7.
“However, expatriates and professional visit pass-holders will have to obtain approval from the Immigration Department before they can enter the country.
"Their application must be accompanied by a support letter from the Malaysian Investment Development Authorities or related agencies, ” he said on Thursday (Sept 10).
The government has also decided to allow permanent residents, as well as foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens, to enter Malaysia, provided it is a one-way journey and that they remain here.
“However, expatriates and professional visit pass-holders will have to obtain approval from the Immigration Department before they can enter the country.
"Their application must be accompanied by a support letter from the Malaysian Investment Development Authorities or related agencies, ” he said on Thursday (Sept 10).
The government has also decided to allow permanent residents, as well as foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens, to enter Malaysia, provided it is a one-way journey and that they remain here.
#68
womble
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,675
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
Entry ban relaxed on expats, professional visit pass-holders from 23 countries
This doesn't seem to include MM2H holders.
This doesn't seem to include MM2H holders.
#69
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2018
Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Posts: 187
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
Entry ban relaxed on expats, professional visit pass-holders from 23 countries
This doesn't seem to include MM2H holders.
This doesn't seem to include MM2H holders.
#71
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Kuching, Sarawak
Posts: 674
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MM2H Recipients who are trapped abroad and who have not had their Passports Endorsed.
I've added caps to highlight certain important points
MINISTRY OF TOURISM, ARTS AND CULTURE MALAYSIA
EXTENSION OF MALAYSIA MY SECOND HOME (MM2H) CONDITIONAL APPROVAL LETTER THAT EXPIRED DURING MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER (MCO)
1. According to the endorsement procedure of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Pass, APPROVED APPLICANT is required to complete the remaining conditions stated in the Conditional Approval Letter and perform the endorsement of the MM2H Pass within six (6) months from the date of the letter.
2. However, due to the current travel restriction imposed by the Government of Malaysia, foreigners OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES are still not allowed to enter Malaysia during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period. This restriction also applies to the approved applicant of MM2H Program. Therefore, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT of Malaysia has decided to give extension to the Conditional Approval Letter for a period of three (3) months.
3. The request for an extension can be made within three (3) months AFTER Government of Malaysia ended (sic...ends) the MCO and after the border are reopened to foreigner. The approved applicant/sponsor is required to submit the request for the extension of the Conditional Approval Letter to MM2H Unit, Visa, Pass and Permit Division, Immigration Department of Malaysia. The required documents are as follows:
i. Letter of Intent;
ii. A copy of Conditional Approval Letter; and
iii. A copy of Passport Particular Page
4. For further inquiries, please write to mm2h[at]imi.gov.my. Thank you.
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) 23rd September 2020""
So...to summarize. If you are outside the country and cannot get an endorsement because of travel restrictions on "certain categories of foreigners you can: Apply for an extension within three months of the end of the MCO and after the border is "reopened to foreigner".
I've added caps to highlight certain important points
MINISTRY OF TOURISM, ARTS AND CULTURE MALAYSIA
EXTENSION OF MALAYSIA MY SECOND HOME (MM2H) CONDITIONAL APPROVAL LETTER THAT EXPIRED DURING MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER (MCO)
1. According to the endorsement procedure of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Pass, APPROVED APPLICANT is required to complete the remaining conditions stated in the Conditional Approval Letter and perform the endorsement of the MM2H Pass within six (6) months from the date of the letter.
2. However, due to the current travel restriction imposed by the Government of Malaysia, foreigners OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES are still not allowed to enter Malaysia during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period. This restriction also applies to the approved applicant of MM2H Program. Therefore, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT of Malaysia has decided to give extension to the Conditional Approval Letter for a period of three (3) months.
3. The request for an extension can be made within three (3) months AFTER Government of Malaysia ended (sic...ends) the MCO and after the border are reopened to foreigner. The approved applicant/sponsor is required to submit the request for the extension of the Conditional Approval Letter to MM2H Unit, Visa, Pass and Permit Division, Immigration Department of Malaysia. The required documents are as follows:
i. Letter of Intent;
ii. A copy of Conditional Approval Letter; and
iii. A copy of Passport Particular Page
4. For further inquiries, please write to mm2h[at]imi.gov.my. Thank you.
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) 23rd September 2020""
So...to summarize. If you are outside the country and cannot get an endorsement because of travel restrictions on "certain categories of foreigners you can: Apply for an extension within three months of the end of the MCO and after the border is "reopened to foreigner".
#72
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Kuching, Sarawak
Posts: 674
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
It appears that after some delay the On-Line application form for those foreign visa holders (including MM2H) who wish too return to Malaysia is now operational.
https://www.theborneopost.com/2020/1...EC1ZwG4zt7IpFo
https://www.theborneopost.com/2020/1...EC1ZwG4zt7IpFo
#73
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2015
Location: Penang
Posts: 959
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
In the news today: "Sabah adopts federal 23-nation travel ban list"
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/ca...ned-countries/
Partial quote:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/ca...ned-countries/
Partial quote:
The Sabah state government said today that it had decided to adopt the federal government’s travel ban on 23 countries. In September, the previous state government had barred visitors from only three countries namely India, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Local Government and Housing Minister Masidi Manjun said the holders of long-term passes who have been barred includes those with permanent residence permits, the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, all expatriates, spouses of Malaysian nationals, and holders of student passes and temporary work visit documents.
Masidi there were certain exceptions, including diplomats and their dependents, crewmen and professional workers in the oil and gas industry, crew members of marine vessels.
Local Government and Housing Minister Masidi Manjun said the holders of long-term passes who have been barred includes those with permanent residence permits, the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, all expatriates, spouses of Malaysian nationals, and holders of student passes and temporary work visit documents.
Masidi there were certain exceptions, including diplomats and their dependents, crewmen and professional workers in the oil and gas industry, crew members of marine vessels.
#74
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2018
Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Posts: 187
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
[QUOTE=SushiFan;12937756]In the news today: "Sabah adopts federal 23-nation travel ban list"
It really sucks for people who can't get here since March. They have families living apart, they have houses staying empty and growing mold.
It really sucks for people who can't get here since March. They have families living apart, they have houses staying empty and growing mold.
#75
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2018
Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Posts: 187
Re: MM2Hers stuck outside
In the news today: "Sabah adopts federal 23-nation travel ban list"
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/ca...ned-countries/
Partial quote:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/ca...ned-countries/
Partial quote: