KUALA LUMPUR:Restrictions on the entry of foreigners into Malaysia are made based on the scoring board of risk assessment matrix which can provide a clear picture of the risk from COVID-19 imported cases into the country.<br /> <br /> Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof said the criteria used in calculating the risk include the number of COVID-19 cases, death rate for one million people in the last 14 days and the death tolls as well as recovery index.<br /> <br /> “These import cases have a big impact on the country because they used Malaysian facilities for treatment when they were actually infected abroad.<br /> <br /> “This will disrupt the government’s healthcare services because the country’s main responsibility is to provide the best healthcare services including COVID-19 treatment to Malaysians and not foreigners entering the country,” he said at a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.<br /> <br /> He was responding to a question from Dr Ong Kian Ming (PH-Bangi) who wanted to know the reason behind the blanket ban imposed in September on all citizens from countries with COVID-19 cases reached 150,000 cases including those with valid entry permits such as participants of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme and expatriates.<br /> <br /> Mohd Redzuan said the government’s decision to impose restrictions on 23 countries deemed high-risk in early September was an immediate measure as the government did not have sufficient data on the COVID-19 situation and control methods implemented in those countries at that time.<br /> <br /> He said that the move was to protect Malaysians as it was feared that there would be spike in COVID-19 cases in those countries as well as risk of infection here.<br /> <br /> “During the temporary ban, the government has obtained the latest information and re-evaluated the risks. Accordingly, on Sept 10, the government decided that expatriates in the Employment Pass 1 (EP) category and technical experts or skilled workers from 23 countries, be allowed to enter Malaysia.<br /> <br /> “They are required to submit an application to the Immigration Department first and to submit supporting documents from the Malaysian Investment Development Board or the relevant ministries/ agencies. They are also subject to the mandatory quarantine order for 14 days at the quarantine station set by the government,” he said.<br /> <br /> He said the government would continue to study and scrutinise the matter from time to time to allow entry from targeted countries using the travel bubble concept.<br /> <br /> -- BERNAMA