Malaysia's tourism hinges on reopening (China Daily's interview: 17 March 2022)

 Quote:

Lim Chee Han, a senior researcher at the think tank Third World Network in Kuala Lumpur, said the government has encouraged people to get booster shots even before the start of the Omicron wave. More than 65 percent of Malaysia's adult population have received booster shots as of Wednesday, according to official data.

Vaccination campaign

"Even at the peak of the Omicron-led pandemic wave here in Malaysia, the government can still manage the hospital admission load," Lim said. "The vaccination campaign makes a significant difference in terms of reducing healthcare facilities burden, especially for ICUs and ventilators. This is nothing like the Delta-led pandemic wave back in August last year."

He said unless a new and more infectious variant emerges, Malaysia is not likely to receive imported COVID-19 cases that can seriously threaten its public healthcare system.

Full article here: https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202203/17/WS62328072a310fd2b29e51623.html

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Question: do you think this is the right time for Malaysia to reopen? Is the country prepared to reopen borders - and it's even timed at the start of Ramadan?

Full response: 

It is only a matter of time, WHEN Malaysia should reopen the borders, given that many countries have already done so. When the National Recovery Council recommended in February for the borders to be reopened in 1 March, many felt that it was too rushed and premature. Indeed, the omicron-led pandemic was just getting the grip in Malaysia and the cases were on the upward trend.

However, when the Prime Minister Ismail Sabri made the announcement on 8 March for the Malaysian borders to reopen on 1 April, the situation was much different. 

First, the announcement was at least 3 weeks ahead for all the coordinations and adjustments to take place. 

2) Given how intensively the government launched the booster vaccine dose campaign prior to the omicron-led wave in Malaysia, now 98.7% of the adult population is fully vaccinated, 65.1% got their booster shot. They should feel more secure facing any possible infection. 

3) Even at the peak of the omicron-led pandemic wave here in Malaysia, the government can still manage the hospital admission load. The vaccination campaign makes a significant difference in terms of reducing healthcare facilities burden, especially for ICU and ventilators. This is nothing like the Delta-led pandemic wave back in August last year. 

4) Looking at the global pandemic trend, most countries, especially in Europe and America, have gotten over the peak of their omicron-wave. Their daily cases are already in decline. Malaysia is going that way too in the weeks to come. Hence, barring any emergence of any newly discovered riskier variant, Malaysia people may not get more covid import cases that could seriously threaten our public healthcare capacity. 

It is in the Prime Minister's intention to let members of Malaysian Family (Keluarga Malaysia - his popular slogan) come back to the country for family reunion before the Eid festival, so with this announcement, it makes things possible, starting from Ramadan month. They have one month to prepare for the return.