Kuala Lumpur: Effective Monday (Aug 1), all travellers entering Malaysia no longer need to fill in and complete the traveller’s card feature in the MySejahtera application, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said the relaxation was decided after taking into account that the country’s health system is now at a good and controlled level, apart from aiming to facilitate the entry procedures of travellers to this country.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) will constantly intensify symptom-monitoring activities among travellers at all international entry points (PMA) in Malaysia, he said in a statement, Saturday.
“During arrival at PMA, if a traveller is detected with a fever through a thermal scanner or is found to be unwell, they will be referred for re-examination by the Health Department,” he said.
Khairy said after a health assessment is made and if they are suspected of having an infectious disease such as Covid-19, monkeypox, MERS-CoV or others, they will be referred to a nearby health facility for examination and further treatment.
Therefore, he said, all travellers who have just arrived from abroad should practise self-monitoring of their health status, comply with the prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and are advised to go to a nearby health facility for examination if unwell.
Meanwhile, a total of two million lives can be saved and smoking-related diseases can be prevented in the period up till 2040 if the proposed Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Act 2022 comes into force.
Khairy said the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill was essential to public health as there were not many laws in the country which can save that many lives.
“That’s why I’m appealing to all Members of Parliament to vote for the Bill which can save lives of two million Malaysians and prevent premature deaths caused by smoking.
“Apart from premature deaths, this Bill will be able to greatly help reduce cases of smoking-related disease,” he said.
Khairy is scheduled to table the Bill for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat this Monday (Aug 1) with the debate and winding-up session to take place the following day (Aug 2).
The Minister expressed hope that the bill would be supported and passed.
The Bill, which was tabled for its first reading by Khairy last Wednesday, provides for, among others, the prohibition of smoking, buying or possessing tobacco products or smoking devices by the Generational End-Game (GEG) or individuals, born in 2007 onwards.
Khairy said the approval of the Bill will also ensure that the sale of cigarette products, especially vape, can be regulated under a separate act as there is currently no legal mechanism to regulate such products.
“Currently, cigarettes are regulated under the Food Act 1983 and nicotine, the Poisons Act 1952. There is no specific law to regulate tobacco products and the vaping industry,” he said while urging industry players to support the Bill.
Asked about the punishments provided in the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022, he said there will be no criminal record for GEG offenders and they will only be fined, if convicted.
According to Section 17 of the proposed Act, no person who was born on Jan 1, 2007 onwards shall smoke any tobacco product or substitute tobacco product; use any smoking device; or possess any tobacco product, smoking substance, substitute tobacco product or smoking device.
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM5,000, it reads.
Apart from that, individuals born on Jan 1, 2007 onwards who purchase tobacco products, smoking substance and substitute tobacco products or smoking devices may face a fine not exceeding RM5,000, upon conviction.
