PETALING JAYA: Incomplete travel documents are among the causes of congestion at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), says the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC).
“One of the causes of congestion at KLIA is when passengers do not complete their pre-departure documents, health declaration form and home quarantine application, before leaving for Malaysia.
“MoH (heath ministry) has included a ‘Traveller’ tab in the MySejahtera app which allows travellers to complete all the necessary documentation before leaving for Malaysia,” the centre said in a statement today.
It was responding to FMT columnist Rosli Khan’s account of his “horrific experience” at KLIA on arrival home from Indonesia.
The CPRC said travellers must apply for home quarantine a week before departure, and once they completed the application, they were no longer required to scan the MySejahtera QR code upon arrival at KLIA.
It also said coordination meetings had been held with the transport ministry, the foreign affairs ministry, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and the immigration department to improve the arrival process at KLIA.
“The International Air Transport Association has issued a reminder to all airlines to ensure that pre-departure procedures are improved. MAHB has also added process signages.
“Engagement with relevant embassies, such as the Bangladesh (high commission), has also been held to ensure that their citizens complete the pre-departure process before leaving for Malaysia,” it said.
CPRC said the number of passengers had multiplied and was expected to increase when the country’s borders reopened.
In line with that, it said, the protocol and the process of managing the arrival of passengers had been revised for the convenience of arriving travellers while adhering to the health protocols.
“All the agencies involved at the international gateway must be committed. Preparations need to be made from now for the opening of the Penang international gateway for direct flights from abroad.
“The facilitation committee needs to discuss simplifying the work process at the international gateway as we expect arrivals to multiply,” it said.
It also said engagements and discussions had been held with all state health departments in preparation for the safe opening of the nation’s borders.