KUALA LUMPUR: Starting Wednesday, fully-vaccinated travellers entering Malaysia through the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) by air from Cambodia, Singapore and Thailand will no longer need to wait for their Covid-19 test results at the airport upon arrival.
The Transport Ministry, in a statement today, said the standard operating procedures (SOP) for VTL by air with the three countries have been standardised as Malaysia begins its transition phase into endemicity on April 1.
Under the new "Test and Release" method, travellers from the three countries will be allowed to proceed to their respective accommodations after they take a Covid-19 swab test upon arrival.
"They must then self-isolate while awaiting their Covid-19 test results which will be given within 24 hours.
"They will be cleared from isolation upon a negative test result.
"In the event of a positive result, travellers are to comply with existing health protocols prescribed by the Health Ministry.
"This uniformity of the SOP serves to reduce ambiguity in the VTL by air initiative for travellers entering Malaysia and to facilitate enforcement in the air terminals.
"It applies to all VTL arrivals at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Penang International Airport from March 16," the ministry said.
Malaysia is also slated to reopen its international borders on April 1.