Over 250,000 travellers exit, enter borders since April 1 reopening, says DG

PUTRAJAYA - A total of 252,730 entry and exit travellers were recorded at the country's main entry points on the first in the four days since the country's border reopened on April 1, said Immigration Director-General Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud.

The country's gateway that recorded the highest number of foreign movements was at the Sultan Iskandar Building in Johor at 160,818, followed by Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 38,407, Sultan Abu Bakar Complex, Johor (53,113), Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2 ) (11,712) and Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah (6,980).

The five countries that recorded the highest number of travelers were Singapore (65,165), Thailand (7,841), Indonesia (5,173), India (2,477) and the United Kingdom (1,485), he said in a statement today.

On March 8, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the country's borders were reopened on April 1 in line with the country's plan to enter the Transition to Endemic Phase.

On the issuance of International Malaysian Passports, Khairul Dzaimee said his party had issued 12,923 copies of passports in the same period.

"It is expected that (passport issuance) will continue to increase as the public takes advantage of the opening of the border for the purpose of traveling abroad and performing umrah," he said.

Khairul Dzaimee said the reopening of the country's borders saw an increase in the movement of foreign travelers into the country by 76.4 per cent while the issuance of International Malaysian Passports increased by 38.2 per cent.

He also reminded locals and international travelers to always adhere to the general travel protocol set by the Ministry of Health and the Immigration Regulations.

"To Malaysians, you are advised to check the blacklist records in the Immigration Department portal or kiosks available at KLIA," he said. - Bernama