KUALA LUMPUR – All passenger flights from and to India are prohibited from entering Malaysia and only cargo flights will be permitted at this time.
Therefore, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong explained that the viral Malaysia Airlines (MH) flights from India that are widely circulated in the social media and caused public anxiety were all cargo flights.
“Flights on passenger aircraft are also empty of people and are used to carry freight comprising pharmaceutical goods, medical supplies, mobile phones, electrical components, and courier packages,” he said in a statement.
According to him, converting passenger flights to cargo-only flights has been a practice (dubbed P2C passenger-to-cargo) for Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) for many months now due to the pandemic.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), MASkargo under MAB and Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) have also corroborate these facts.
Further checks with the Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also verified that a case of an Indian foreign worker with a valid pass entering Malaysia occurred much earlier on 10 April.
“Non-Malaysian travelers from India are not allowed to enter or even transit through Malaysia at this time. However, exceptions will be made for Malaysian citizens transiting through Malaysia from India, without clearing Immigration and Customs.
“All crew (pilots, engineers, and one cabin crew) remain onboard. MAB is also restricting ground maintenance personnel in India from entering the relevant aircraft.
“Foreign workers holding temporary working visit passes, business workers, and international students from India will be similarly restricted under the 28 April 2021 order,” Ka Siong explained in a Facebook post.
Malaysians (students and workers), their families and non-Malaysian spouses of Malaysians returning to Malaysia from India are allowed with a 14-day mandatory quarantine at designated centres.
While it is regrettable that some misinformation had occurred on the status of these flights, Ka Siong continued to give his assurance that the Government is aware of the concerns and situation in all our foreign neighbours and is taking the necessary steps to contain further transmissions in Malaysia. –MalaysiaGazette
