The federal government has today officially announced the lifting of full interstate travel restrictions beginning tomorrow, October 11.
In a special address, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the announcement follows the promise made by the government on allowing interstate travel after the overall vaccination rate threshold is reached.
“Alhamdulillah, the adult population vaccination rate under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) has reached 90 percent.
“Therefore, the government has allowed interstate travel for those who have been fully vaccinated without the need to apply for permission from the authorities beginning tomorrow, Monday, October 11,” he said.
On September 22, Ismail said interstate travel would resume when 90 percent of the adult population in Malaysia have been fully vaccinated
According to the National Security Council, complete vaccinations are defined as those who have passed 14 days from the day they received their second dose for vaccines requiring two shots (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Sinopharm and Sinovac).
As for vaccines requiring only one shot (Johnson & Johnson and CanSino), complete vaccination is defined as those who have passed 28 days upon receiving their shots.
Although it is not mandatory, Ismail urged Malaysians to self-test before going back.
“I would also like to advise those who have colds, coughs or fever to avoid going back,” he said.
He said that although there will be no more roadblocks, authorities will still conduct random checks at rest stops or anywhere else to ensure everyone complies with standard operating procedure such as masking or to check whether they are fully vaccinated.
Fully vaccinated Malaysians and those residing in the country can also travel abroad starting tomorrow.
However, they must undergo mandatory quarantine upon their return to Malaysia.
“We are allowing Malaysians to travel to any other country, but our country is still not open to foreign travellers, except for emergency and business matters. But the health ministry is looking into this matter.”
Ismail said the government had not set a date for Malaysia to enter the endemic phase.
It will be the first time since January that interstate travel will be allowed without the need for police permission. Malaysians had also been barred from travelling overseas for non-official or emergency reasons since the onset of the pandemic in March last year.