KUALA LUMPUR – It is too soon for Malaysia to discuss the border reopening as the country has only just started its vaccination programme yesterday, said Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
This is despite a previous statement by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba that the government plans to issue “Covid-19 passports” as verification for those who have been inoculated.
Speaking at a press conference today, Ismail Sabri said it could take some time before the government agrees to allow international travel, with the matter yet to be brought up for consideration.
“Yes, a Covid-19 passport will indeed be issued, details of which will be announced either by the Health Ministry (MoH) or Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti). We are also in the midst of getting information from the World Health Organisation on the matter.
“But at the moment, there is no fixed date yet. We don’t know which countries will accept this passport, or which vaccines will be included in the list by the foreign countries.
“It is still too early to make a decision about reopening the borders. There has not even been any discussion to date (in the government) on when we should open the borders.”
Adham had said on February 21 that the government intended to come up with Covid-19 passports for those who have been vaccinated, and that the MoH and Mosti are in the midst of refining the plan.
He added that the government will soon decide whether this passport is either be contained in the MySejahtera app or in physical form.
Malaysia rolled out its National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme yesterday, with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin receiving the first jab. – The Vibes, February 25, 2021
