Foreign crew members of ships docking at all Malaysian ports are not allowed to disembark in line with COVID-19 restrictions, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong announced.
The decision means seafarers are impeded from crew change and repatriation in Malaysian ports, in a time when several thousands of them remain trapped onboard ships beyond their contract limits, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Exceptions will be made only for Malaysian citizens who need to be quarantined for 14 days in government-designated stations under strict procedures as decided by the Health Ministry (MOH), he was quoting as saying by local media.
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According to Dr. Wee, ships with Covid-19 symptoms detected onboard as determined by the Ministry must undergo a 14-day quarantine. Otherwise, all vessels, including those originating from India, do not need to be quarantined at sea, provided they receive the MOH’s permission to dock, he explained.
In addition, all dockworkers working on vessels must use MOH-approved personal protective equipment (PPE), including face masks and disposable latex gloves, while non-dock workers are not allowed to enter any vessels docked at Malaysian ports without MOH’s approval.
In a bid to address a surge in COVID-19 cases and prevent Covid-19 variants originating in India from entering Malaysia, the country has imposed a Movement Control Order with effect from May 12 to June 7.
