Malaysia enjoyed a good start towards normalcy, with some 250,000 people crossing the border since the country reopened on April 1, says Khairy Jamaluddin (pic).

“The Health Ministry will work closely with the Tourism and Culture Ministry to gradually relax standard operating procedures and travel protocols as we prioritise both socioeconomic recovery and public health concerns,” said the Health Minister on Twitter yesterday.

Through an infographic by the office of the Immigration director-general, Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud, Khairy said the department also recorded 252,730 travellers entering and leaving the country between April 1 and 4.

During the same period, arrivals were 126,392 Malaysians and 55,121 foreigners; while 28,301 Malaysians and 42,916 foreigners left the country.

“The entry and exit of foreign nationals increased by 76.4%,” it said.

Among the top five foreign visitors were from Singapore, with 65,165 people, Thailand (7,841), Indonesia (5,173), India (2,477) and the United Kingdom (1,485).

The busiest points of entry among foreigners were through the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in Johor, with 160,818 entries, followed by the Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ complex @ Linkedua in Johor (53,113), the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (38,407), klia2 (11,712) and the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security complex (6,980).

The department added that a total of 12,923 passports were issued from April 1 to 4, where applications increased by 38.2% since March 2022.

The number is expected to increase further, as more people take the opportunity to travel and perform the umrah.

The department urged everyone to comply with the Health Ministry’s protocols and current immigration rules, including checking the Immigration blacklist (SSPI) via its website or at the airport kiosk to determine whether one is barred from leaving Malaysia.

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by ALLISON LAI

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