LANGKAWI – The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) wants the Health Ministry to review the move requiring tourists to undertake Covid-19 testing before travelling to Langkawi from tomorrow onwards.
It is morally wrong to punish tourists for Covid-19 and that it is the responsibility of the government of the day to mitigate the pandemic, its vice-president, Datuk K. Koris Atan, said in calling on the government to subsidise the costs of the tests.
Speaking to The Vibes, Koris said, tourists might also be inconvenienced on whether the test results are fairly accurate, which may involve retests.
“If foreign tourists are made to pay for the testing, it is fine, but to further burden domestic tourists, who are already reeling from the lockdowns, tragedies of deaths and suffering from Covid-19, I think it is out of line.
“People are resorting to travel because they are looking forward to it after being forced to only be at home for long periods.
“They just want to take a short break, but the authorities are making it harder by passing on the costs of testing to them.
“It is acceptable to screen tourists, but the costs should be subsidised or borne by the government,” he said.
Langkawi was selected as the first destination for the tourism bubble project after close to 90% of its 115,000-population base has been fully vaccinated.
Despite the initial announcement by the Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri that no such tests were required, the reversal of the decision by the Health Ministry has confused many parties barely hours before tourism is set to open in Langkawi.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had stated that tourists travelling to Langkawi must be screened for Covid-19 at least 48 hours before departure.
“RT-PCR or RTK-Antigen tests must be conducted 48 hours before departure and the test results must be presented at ports of entry (airport or ferry terminal) for inspection.”
Results from self-test kits are also accepted
Tourists can purchase a self-test kit and bring it along to the airport or ferry terminal to undergo the Covid-19 detection test at the designated screening areas.
They can also purchase self-test kits through a service provided by the private sector at screening areas, at the airport or ferry terminal and undergo the detection test there.
Meanwhile, Tourism Langkawi chairman Ahmad Pishol Isahak commended the Health Ministry for placing the safety and wellbeing of the islanders and tourists above other considerations but questioned if the timing was suitable in view that tourism will be reopened just hours away.
“We accept what is best, but we must always strive to organise our reopening in an orderly and consistent way, so tourists feel welcome and secured.”
Former tourism, culture and arts deputy minister Datuk Muhammed Bakhtiar Wan Chik said that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) were not discussed at length and within the cabinet following both calls.
“There is no consensus among the ministers,” he said. – The Vibes, September 15, 2021
