[UPDATED] No RTK tests required at airports: MAHB

KUALA LUMPUR – International travellers arriving at Malaysian airports are free to conduct their mandatory RTK-Ag tests for Covid-19 at any hospital or clinic of their choice within 24 hours of arrival, Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB) said today.

The airport operator said there were no such instructions for foreign arrivals to perform Covid-19 screenings at airports, denying allegations of a monopoly by one private health facility carrying out the tests at certain airports.

“This is baseless as it is not mandatory to perform the tests at the airport upon arrival,” MAHB said in a statement.

“The facilities are made available for passengers who wish to have the convenience of doing the tests right away at the airport upon their arrival.”

MAHB said four private operators have been engaged to provide services at four different airports – BP Clinical Lab Sdn Bhd (KLIA), Edgenta UEMS Sdn Bhd (Penang International Airport), MYEG Services Sdn Bhd (Kota Kinabalu International Airport), and Gribbles Pathology (M) Sdn Bhd (Kuching International Airport).

The screening requirement does not apply to fully-vaccinated travellers between Malaysia and Singapore as announced by the governments of both nations, MAHB said.

Yesterday, Chinese daily Sin Chew reported that travellers had complained of a monopoly on Covid-19 screening services by one private health facility operator at KLIA. – The Vibes, April 8, 2022