The Malaysian Insight

THE Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) is developing Covid-19 safety protocols for short-term business travellers to enter Malaysia.

Mida’s executive director of investment promotion Sivasuriyamoorthy Sundara Raja this could include shortening the entry process, which involves undergoing 14 days of mandatory quarantine.

The process is difficult for short-term business travellers who are only planning to stop by Malaysian for less than six days, he told a webinar on Budget 2021 organised by Ernst & Young.

“So to cut down this process, a one-stop approving committee has already been set up. 

“The team consists of the representatives of Mida, Immigration Department, the International Trade and Industry Ministry, as well as the Health Ministry,” Sivasuriyamoorthy said.

The government has already established a One-Stop-Centre (OSC) at Mida, since October 2, to ensure Malaysia remains a primary choice for foreign investors.

Mida is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the International Trade and Industry to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. 

The OSC facilitates the entry of eligible business travellers to enter Malaysia for trade and investment purposes. 

“For long-term business travellers entry, all applications are vetted by the OSC and approval is granted within three days,” Sivasuriyamoorthy said.

“We are improving the MyEntry, as well as the MyTravelPass mechanism, which is now headed by the immigration to allow short-term travels as well,” he said.

MyTravelPass is an easier and quicker entry visa and permit approval system introduced on October 7 by the Immigration Department.

MyEntry is an online platform enabling the public and relevant government stakeholders, including Malaysian embassies abroad, to apply, process, monitor and track applications in real-time.

In addition, Sivasuriyamoorthy said the setting up of a business travellers centre at Kuala Lumpur International Airport is also underway. 

“This is purely to cater to the entry of short-term business travellers, whereby they have to be tested for Covid-19 overseas, and when they are here, immediately undertake a rapid test at KLIA. 

“And of course, they have to do a third test before they depart.”

From January to June, Malaysia recorded total approved investments of RM64.8 billion in the manufacturing, services and primary sectors. 

Of these, foreign direct investments made up RM19.5 billion or 30.2%.

“We need businessmen to come,” he said. – November 17, 2020.