PUTRAJAYA: A compulsory 14-day home quarantine before travelling overseas is among the proposals mooted by the Health Ministry in establishing a travel bubble with Australia and New Zealand.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said although the country's borders remain closed, the ministry had initiated discussions with Australia and New Zealand authorities to look into standard operating procedures and travelling guidelines between Malaysia and the two countries.
"Among the proposals being discussed (with New Zealand and Australia) included a quarantine at home before the date of departure.
"Travellers must also undergo Covid-19 swab testing and test negative for the virus during the first and 13th day (of the home quarantine) before they are allowed to leave their respective countries the following day.
"This way, travellers are not required to undergo compulsory quarantine in countries that are their final destination," he said during a media engagement session here today.
"Having that said, this matter needs the agreement from all parties (countries) before it can be implemented.
"Discussions have already been made with Australia and New Zealand but the two countries are not prepared (to form a travel bubble with Malaysia)."