A FRIEND'S FaceTime session with his father last week began with a surprise query: "Is Malaysia now open to Indonesians?" He told my friend of his plan to spend the December holiday in Kuala Lumpur, and perhaps also to see his stranded son.
Though surprising, it reflected the attitude of some Indonesians who adopt a life-must-go-on attitude, even under the new normal.
As we know, Malaysia imposed a blanket restriction on Indonesian travellers after cases there passed the 150,000 mark.
Earlier, Indonesia also instituted an entry ban on foreign visitors, but has since relaxed the regulations for foreigners with a stay permit.
Prospective travellers like my father would hopefully be delighted by the announcement of the proposal to establish travel bubbles among Asean member states, Malaysia and Indonesian included. This is a progressive step for the two nations.
The sentiment is reflected in Asean Summits this year. Malaysia threw its support behind Indonesia's proposal for a regional travel corridor in June.
Further reinforcing the point was the unveiling of the Asean Declaration on an Asean Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework in November's Summit, which calls for progressive steps in restoring connectivity.
Such travel bubbles could restore the broken link between the two countries, which has disrupted business ties, separated families and hindered education. However, Malaysia's infection wave is expected to create anxiety over the prospect of opening the country to Indonesia, which recorded 516,753 Covid-19 cases at the time of writing.
This is where a perception of travel bubbles must be recalibrated. It does not signify a wholesale opening of the border to all Indonesian travellers. Existing travel bubbles, such as the Singapore-Indonesia and Singapore-Malaysia Reciprocal Green Lanes, showcase that such arrangements must be reserved for essential and official travels first. Asean's aforementioned declaration also supports this, with leisure trips to be considered only at a later stage.
True, there is a pressure to restore connectivity. Malaysia's tourism sector offers a reminder, with over 200 hotel and tourism operators reportedly facing closure due to Covid-19. The plan to bring in four million Indonesian tourists in 2020 is certainly missed. To give you context, Indonesian tourists contributed RM2.83 billion to Malaysia's revenue in 2018.
Still, opening up for tourism is off the table at the moment. The numbers of cases in both countries are too high for comfort and nobody can guarantee that the tourists will be on their best behaviour.
Moreover, the Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble had to be postponed after an uptick of cases in Hong Kong. The model was supposed to be a test for a limited, quarantine-free travel suited for tourism that could be replicated in the Malaysia-Indonesia arrangement.
Should the arrangement for essential and official travellers prove successful, the Malaysia-Indonesia travel bubble must focus on facilitating the movement of foreign workers, students and families who have been hindered by travel restrictions.
This stage could perhaps serve as a dry run to test the capacity, readiness and protocol in each nation before a more serious arrangement, such as tourism, can be considered. Besides, taking this step could boost the profile of each country for adopting a benevolent policy, especially if their health protocol proves to be effective and efficient.
The risk remains in place. While Indonesia is still an epicentre, the spike in Malaysia does not instil confidence either. If we refer to the numbers, the perception of Malaysia being a safer place between the two does not necessarily apply the way it did in June.
A vaccine might be a best bet for a more liberal application for a travel bubble, although it might be a while before we can see a positive result. Despite being the only tenable solution to the pandemic, the administration of a vaccines is challenged by some negative perceptions and prolonged distribution.
Unfortunately for my friend and other Indonesian workers here, we probably have to wait a bit longer before a reunion with their families can take place. In the meantime, we just have to be grateful for our health and the job that provides a roof over our heads and puts food on the table.