Earlier we had the National Security Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin officially declare that Malaysia will open its borders to international travelers beginning March 1, however, this was later rebutted when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said the decision has yet to be made.
Now the Health Minister makes the statement that the border will likely only open in quarter 2 which will be either April, May, or June adding to the already conflicting statements made by multiple heads of the government. This comes from the directive given by the Prime Minister to issue an indication within 2 weeks regards to the border reopening to the Health Ministry.
Many were assuming that the borders will be opened in two weeks’ time, but this was clarified by Khairy Jamaluddin the Health Minister that the notice wasn’t for the reopening and the delicate matter needs to be discussed in length with respective parties. He added the guidelines would first need to be presented to the Covid-19 Pandemic Management Committee as well as the Covid-19 Quartet Ministers before bringing it forward to the Cabinet.
“A massive policy like this can’t be made by MOH alone, that’s why it could be an early second quarter to be realistic, anyway wait for the announcement from the Prime Minister,” said KJ.
This beckons the question of when the decision of such magnitude requires many layers of discussion and Ministries including the Cabinet, what was the NSC Chairman doing making such an important statement that involves not only Malaysia but international community so prematurely?
