BUKIT KAYU HITAM – The Malaysia-Thailand border at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) here is open since 6am, but it has been relatively quiet as the country marks the reopening of its borders today as an effort to transition into the endemic phase.
A survey by The Vibes found the road to the border here has a stream of container trucks carrying various products in and out of the country.
There were also about 10 private vehicles here queuing up as early as 4am to enter Thailand, but it is understood that only a few vehicles were allowed in due to the restrictions imposed by the Thai government.
The first individual to enter Malaysia via the ICQS here was Philips O’Brien, 74. He said he had been at the Malaysia-Thailand border entrance since midnight.
“Initially, I went to Malaysia in 2019, and then travelled to Thailand. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I had to stay in Thailand for two years and could not return to Malaysia.
“Today I am grateful to be able to return to Malaysia, and will be in this country for six months, before returning to my country of origin,” said the Irish national.
Another traveller, Thai national Orthai Kukiatanam, 44, said she wanted to visit Malaysia to meet her boyfriend who lives in Kedah.
She said before the pandemic, she would visit Malaysia routinely every month.
“Although our distance is not too far, we had to communicate through online calls,” she said when asked about her relationship.
Meanwhile, there were a handful of Malaysians who wanted to enter Thailand and had to turn back because they were not aware of the restrictions imposed by the Thai government.
As for Hasmidah Rahim, 33, she said she was disappointed that she was not given detailed information despite visiting the Thai embassy last week.
“They (the Thai embassy) informed us to continue to come to Bukit Kayu Hitam, and the documents will be processed within 24 hours.
“But when we arrived, they told me it needs to be processed in three days, and we need to do a swab test, as well as mandatory quarantine at a hotel provided by the Thai government. All that costs more than RM1,000 for a person, just to enter Thailand.”
She left Rantau Panjang, Kelantan at 10pm last night to come here hoping to visit her family members in Hatyai.
After being turned away, she is hoping that the Thai government could ease restrictions on Malaysian visitors. – The Vibes, April 1, 2022
