Cross-state travel in Malaysia: Existing SOPs to remain in place even after travel permitted

This is especially so to control the movement of unvaccinated persons, by managing the number of activities they are allowed to carry out or participate in, while they are travelling.

Malaysia's Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, has clarified that even after "permission for cross-state travel is granted soon", the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the National Security Council (MKN) will continue to apply. 

This is especially so to control the movement of unvaccinated persons, by managing the number of activities they are allowed to carry out or participate in, even if they are not in their home state, for example, if the existing SOP does not allow unvaccinated persons to dine-in at restaurants, this will continue to be the case for cross-state travellers.

Speaking at a press conference at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL), Minister Khairy said: "I admit, there is no way for us to control the movement of the unvaccinated; however, they will not be given the freedoms (that the vaccinated will get)," also because, as he added, the government has no way to check the vaccination status of everyone crossing states, given that will slow down movement significantly.

He responded to the proposal to make self-testing compulsory for unvaccinated travellers.

"We have studied the plan, but there is no way for us to enforce the proposal. We do not want a roadblock and ask everyone to do screening tests," he said. He spoke about the public sentiment, where people are keen to go back to their hometowns and villages, and instead, face long traffic jams that prevent them from doing so.

To recap, the following are the current SOPs in effect:
- SOPs for Phase Two of Malaysia's National Recovery Plan (July 2021)
- SOPs for Phase Three of Malaysia's National Recovery Plan (August 2021)
- SOPs for Phase Four of Malaysia's National Recovery Plan (August 2021)

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