From 7 to 10 May, the government will allow the public to make interstate journey but originally, this permission was meant for those who were stranded at their hometown since Movement Control Order was implemented back in 18 March. As it turns out, there are also other scenarios that allows the public to travel across the states.
According to the FAQ document [pdf] that was posted on the official website for the Gerak Malaysia’s app yesterday, you are permitted to make the interstate journey if you are sending family members back to their hometown after they were stranded in your own home during MCO.
You are also allowed to travel across the states to pick up wife and children that were stranded at their hometown or relatives’ home when MCO started. Parents out there can also make the interstate journey to fetch their children that are working in other states but does not possess their own transport.
As per our previous report, you need to submit your travel details through Gerak Malaysia by 5 May (that’s today!) if you plan to make the interstate travel later this week. Here is our quick video guide on the submission process:
The FAQ stated that you are prohibited from travelling across the states for personal reasons or if you are not being stranded. In general, you should not use the period to simply balik kampung or visit your relative in another state but frankly speaking, this is going to be hard to enforce.
Meanwhile, the FAQ also pointed out that the current interstate travel policy only applies to private vehicles (which is limited to four passengers per vehicle) as well as for those who want to utilize taxi or e-hailing for the journey. For now, it does not cover interstate travel via express bus and train as well as flight between West and East Malaysia.
So, if you are going to make that interstate travel later this week, please don’t forget to continue practicing high level of personal hygiene. Also, please wear you face mask and adopt social distancing as we continue our lives under the threat of COVID-19.
(Images: Axel Drainville // Rico Lee, used under Creative Commons BY-NC 2.0 and BY-NC-ND 2.0 licenses.)
