KUALA LUMPUR: Only cargo flights from India are currently permitted to enter Malaysia and not passengers, said the Transport Ministry.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said this was in line with the government's instruction after a National Security Council meeting on April 28 decided that all passenger flights from and to India are prohibited from entering Malaysia.
"The MH-designated flights going viral on social media are all cargo only flights. Flights on passenger aircraft are also empty of people and are used to carry freight comprising pharmaceutical goods, medical supplies, mobile phones, electrical components and courier packages.
"Converting passenger flights to cargo only flight has been a practice, which is dubbed P2C (passenger to cargo) for Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) for many months now due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), MASkargo, MAB and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) will also corroborate these facts," said Wee in dismissing viral claims on social media that Malaysia Airlines flights from India were flying in despite the enforced directive.
Wee added that a check with Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also verified that the case of an Indian foreign worker with a valid pass entering Malaysia took place on April 10 which are two separate events.
Non-Malaysian travelers from India are not allowed to enter or even transit through Malaysia at this time, he added.
"However, exceptions will be made for Malaysian citizens transiting through Malaysia from India, without clearing Immigration and Customs.
"All crew (pilots, engineers, and one cabin crew) remain onboard. MAB is also restricting ground maintenance personnel in India from entering the relevant aircraft.
"Foreign workers holding temporary working visit passes, business workers, and international students from India will be similarly restricted under the April 28 order.
"Malaysians (students and workers), their families and non-Malaysian spouses of Malaysians returning to Malaysia from India are allowed with a 14-day mandatory quarantine at designated centres," said Wee.