Update: NRC recommends re-opening borders March 1

Chairman of National Recovery Council Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (right) announcing the recommendation of re-opening of the country’s borders at a press conference.

Updating with changes in headlines and first two grafs.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 – Malaysia could be opening its borders as early as March 1st this year if the recommendation by the National Recovery Council on the re-opening of the borders goes through.

Chairman of National Recovery Council Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today announced that the NRC was suggesting for the re-opening of the country’s borders in full.

Speaking at a press conference following a meeting of the council members here today, he said the council had agreed to reopening the country’s borders in full without any quarantine requirements.

Should this happen, there will however be requirements of Covid-19 tests for travellers before leaving or upon arriving in the country, he said, adding that details of the standard operating procedures in full will be announced by the Health Ministry soon.

This will be to ensure that the re-opening will be smooth and in ensuring continued control of the spread of the virus. He said Malaysia, which was among the countries that had the highest number of its population vaccinated was also well prepared to handle the Covid-19 situation.

Muhyiddin said the reopening of the border is expected to bring about economic recovery in the country, including business investments and activating its tourism sector.