No more home quarantine for PCA travellers

KOTA TINGGI: The government will no longer allow travellers coming into Malaysia under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) to be put under home quarantine, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

He said this came about after a Malaysian travelling back to the country via the PCA tested positive for Covid-19.

The PCA is a scheme agreed to between Singapore and Malaysia to allow work and business-related travel between the two countries through the land border crossings at the Johor-Singapore Causeway and Malaysia-Singapore Second Link.

Dr Adham announced this in a press conference after attending the launch of the Sungai Rengit Health Clinic here yesterday.

“The patient has since been isolated and given treatment.

“As such, those travelling under the PCA will no longer be allowed to quarantine at home but would instead have to be kept in quarantine centres,” he said.

He also added that those placed

One for the album: Dr Adham at the Sungai Rengit Health Clinic in Kota Tinggi. at quarantine centres in hotels would bear the cost.

The 35-year-old man travelled from Singapore on Aug 29 and was confirmed to be positive for Covid19 on Sept 2.

Dr Adham also said that since Malaysia and Singapore started the

PCA and Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) on Aug 17, more than 3,000 people had entered the country.

“About 815 individuals entered Malaysia under the RGL while another 2,647 under the PCA.

“So far, there have been no Covid19 cases reported for those travelling back under the RGL,” he said.

Asked when the third and fourth phases of the reopening of the border with Singapore would be announced, Dr Adham said the matter was still under discussion.

He added that the standard operating procedure for the daily commute of workers between Malaysia and Singapore was also still under negotiation.

“We want to see whether the RGL and PCA could be implemented smoothly between both countries,” he said.

As such, those travelling under the PCA will no longer be allowed to quarantine at home but would instead have to be kept in quarantine centres.

Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba