PUTRAJAYA: Concerns over the performance of the tourism and economic sectors will not override the safety of the rakyat during the Covid-19 pandemic, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic).
"Cabinet has unequivocally decided that health is the main priority, and that questions surrounding tourism and the economy cannot override these interests," he said at a press conference after chairing the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. (Jan 4).
He said that immigration checkpoints into the country will be tightened to screen arrivals from places with a high rate of infections.
The Prime Minister clarified that the action taken was not aimed at being discriminatory towards China, but will also apply to countries with significant infection rates such as the United States.
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The decision by the Cabinet comes as China is currently experiencing a massive wave of Covid-19 infections which has yet to peak.
An influx of over a million Chinese tourists is expected to visit Malaysia after a travel ban is lifted by China this Sunday. (Jan 8)
The move comes after China announced it is doing away with its “Zero-Covid” policy and lifting quarantine requirements for international arrivals.
China also announced that it will lift a ban on outbound travel for its citizens which has been in place since March 2020.
Authorities in places such as Japan, India, the US, Italy, and Taiwan have since imposed mandatory Covid-19 testing for travellers arriving from China.
Morocco had imposed an outright ban on entry of visitors from China pending further notice.
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Last week, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said all travellers arriving from abroad, particularly from China, will be screened following concerns over a possible spike in local infections.
She said those showing signs of infections will be quarantined for further tests.
Commenting on the extremely low takeup by Malaysians on the booster Covid shots, Anwar said some six million doses of boosters are still available, and urged the people to get vaccinated as a form of protection.
He suggested that media personnel should lead by example and get their booster shots.
On Monday, Dr Zaliha Mustafa lamented that only 49.8% of Malaysians had received their first booster dose, while only 1.9% obtained their second booster.
