Sabah follows federal govt’s entry ban on 23 nationalities

KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah government will adopt the temporary entry ban for Long-Term Visit Pass holders from 23 countries to Malaysia, set by the federal government in September, says state Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

The countries are the US, Brazil, India, Russia, Peru, Colombia, South Africa, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iran, the UK, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Iraq, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Masidi, who is also the state government's spokesman on Covid-19 matters, said the decision superseded the media statement made by the Chief Minister's Department on September 4 on the temporary ban only being limited to three countries, namely India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

"Long-Term Visit Passes from the countries involved that are not allowed to enter Sabah are those with Permanent Residency (PR), Malaysia My Second Home Programme passes, expatriate passes, study passes, professional visit passes, dependents' pass holders, passes of husbands or wives to citizens, student passes temporary employment passes,” he told his daily press conference here today.

Masidi said the travel ban also involves other foreign nationals residing in or having a Long-Term Visit Pass in the affected countries.

"But the list of Long-Term Visit Pass holders stated earlier will be allowed to enter Sabah after obtaining Immigration Department approval, subject to guidelines for entry into Sabah," he said.

Masidi said, however, exceptions are given to eligible diplomats under the exemption order and their dependents.

"For diplomats or embassy staff who do not yet have their pass and first entry registered, they need to get entry approval from Immigration first," he said.

Masidi said exemptions are also given to crew entering Sabah to carry out sign-on or joint ship and sign-off activities, as well as crew and professional workers in the oil and gas industry with valid passes and approval from the state government.

He said all entry into Sabah is subject to entry restriction orders issued by the state government from time to time. – Bernama, November 20, 2020