PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is in the "very early" stages of discussion on the implementation of a 'travel bubble' with six countries which have successfully contained the Covid-19 outbreak.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the six countries were Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.
"We need to finalise the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and reach an agreement with the countries on several matters, which has to be mutual and reciprocal.
"This is to ensure that all countries which enter into the agreement follow the same protocol.
"We hope that we can come up with a mutual agreement in terms of implementation. Both sides (countries) have to come up with an agreement before we can allow (open our borders) to other sectors such as business, education and tourism," Dr Noor Hisham told reporters here today.
He was asked to comment if it was too early for Malaysia to open its border to other countries with Covid-19 cases in Malaysia still prevalent.
Earlier today, Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Malaysia would allow expatriates in top management positions and medical tourists to enter the country without permission from the Immigration Department
They, however, must undergo a Covid-19 screening test.
"Until today, strict border controls are still in place although we provide some allowances for foreigners who hold top management positions such as ambassadors.
"They, however, have to comply with our SOPs in terms of Covid-19 screening and quarantine," Dr Noor Hisham added.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed was previously quoted as saying that Malaysia has received a proposal for the implementation of a 'travel bubble' with neighbouring countries.
Mustapa had said that the matter was still being finalised since the government needed to take into consideration many aspects before coming to a decision on the proposal.