KUCHING: Foreigners who have been in the country for at least 30 days are now allowed to enter Sarawak without having to be quarantined, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

They are required to apply beforehand by filling up a form from the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee’s (SDMC) website at least 12 hours before entering the state, he added.

“Foreigners who have been in Malaysia for at least 30 consecutive days are now allowed to enter Sarawak without having to undergo quarantine.

“They however must apply with SDMC through its website first,” he told reporters during the SDMC Covid-19 update press conference here today.

This came after Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin yesterday announced that the state had approved more flights into the state from Kuala Lumpur to stimulate domestic economic growth, especially the tourism sector in the state.

This move is also to facilitate the movement of goods and people for business, official and personal reasons, Lee added.

A total of 331 weekly scheduled flights had been approved between July and August this year, a substantial increase from just once weekly by Malaysia Airlines between Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Miri during the Movement Control Order (MCO).

“The decision to approve and increase the frequency of flights between West (Peninsular) Malaysia to Sarawak and vice versa was made (on June 15) after taking into consideration various factors,” Lee said in a statement.

He said although approval had been given to increase the number of flights and to bring back 100 per cent flight capacity, all agencies such as airport operators and airline operators must follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) stictly at the terminal and while inside the aircraft.