‘Leverage RCEP to reopen regional borders’

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and her other Southeast Asian neighbours must make use of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to reopen their international borders and facilitate economic recovery.

The world’s largest free trade agreement, comprising 15 countries, will take effect on March 18.

Institut Masa Depan Malaysia chief executive officer Azril Mohd Amin said the RCEP could pave the way for a multi-country travel bubble in the region and revitalise Malaysia’s economic sectors.

“Malaysia and other countries in the region must expedite the reopening of their borders to facilitate economic recovery without endangering health risks.

“The government must emulate strategies and approaches adopted by countries like New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines to reopen their borders in phases to revitalise their pandemic-battered economic sectors.

“However, steps to reopen the borders must be implemented carefully to ensure that public health risks remain in control,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Azril said the country’s borders should be reopened after all stakeholders, such as the Health Ministry, Immigration Department, as well as the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry had conducted a risk assessment.

This measure, he said, was vital to support the ongoing efforts under the National Recovery Plan.

National Recovery Council chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, on Feb 8, proposed for Malaysia to reopen borders on March 1 without subjecting travellers to mandatory quarantine.

However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Feb 12 that the cabinet has not discussed the proposal yet, as the Health Ministry had not provided them with feedback on the matter.