Since then, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri has clarified that tourists are welcomed to continue their stay in the country throughout the MCO, but they must follow the rules and restrictions placed by the authorities.

“Tourists are better off staying put where they are because it is safer that way. Once you go out elsewhere, you never know what the risks are out there, ” Nancy says, when contacted.

“You might be in contact with the virus or you might even spread it around. The best thing to do is just to stay in your room, ” she says, adding that sightseeing can only continue once it is safe to do so.

In addition to the cancellation of the Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) campaign, all tourism facilities under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry will be closed until the end of the month.

These include several popular tourist attractions in the Klang Valley, namely the National Art Gallery, National Library and Muzium Negara.

Döscher hopes that he will be able to visit some popular tourist attractions in the country once it is safe to do so. As a matter of fact, that is one of the reasons he is staying on.

“I would really love to explore and get to know KL and potentially more of the country when all of this is finished. But of course, that is not a priority for me at the moment. It is more important that everyone here stays healthy, ” he explains.

As for Greig and Wibowo, there’s no other place they would rather be during the Covid-19 crisis.

“We feel lucky that we are stranded here in KL and not somewhere else. We got everything we need here... groceries, food and even beer!”

Welcome to stay

When the MCO was announced, local travel operators only had a small window to prepare.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang had then called the MCO “bold and decisive”, but criticised the lack of clarification for tourists caught in transition.

“Guests cannot be expected to proceed to the airport and catch the next flight home as easily as commuters taking a train home after work.

“Also, mechanisms must be in place to prevent or reduce unnecessary hardships to the rakyat as well as remaining tourists still holidaying in Malaysia, ” he says.

According to Greig and Wibowo, the coronavirus crisis has also greatly affected the budget for their long-term holiday.

“Our income comes from the travel and tourism industry. We have a YouTube channel that is all about travelling, and Ivana works remotely for a wellness company that runs retreats all over the world.

“So our finances are badly affected by the coronavirus. Luckily we have some savings we have put aside for emergency situations like this, ” they say.

The duo has been keeping their travel budget in check by cooking their own meals at home and avoiding ordering food from outside.

Finances aside, Greig and Wibowo are currently trying to get their visa extended so that they may plan their next move.

“We found very limited information about visa extension during or after MCO – on the process, what to bring, and even office hours, ” says the couple.

A quick check reveals that there’s a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section specifically on the MCO on the Immigration Department’s official website. However, some questions and responses are only available in Bahasa Malaysia.

The Immigration Department states that international visitors with expired or expiring passes during the MCO are allowed to return to their home countries.

Greig and Wibowo say the government should provide more information for stranded travellers.

“It would help us deal with the situation and plan our next move. And maybe (they would provide an) even longer grace period for expired visas since the immigration office would be busy and flights are still hard to get, ” they say.

The couple has decided to stay put in Malaysia as it is too expensive to return to their home country in Canada. They are currently staying with a friend in KL.

“The average price to go back to Canada is between CAD$1,200 and CAD$2,000 (RM3,739 and RM6,232), compared to the normal CAD$600 and CAD$800 (RM1,870 and RM2,493).

“We can only get back home with multiple flight connections. There is a risk of being stranded somewhere else if connecting flights are cancelled.

“Besides, we feel safe here in Malaysia with the MCO taking place, ” they say in response to the decision to stay put.

Like Döscher, Greig and Wibowo have been posting videos of their holiday experience during the MCO period on their YouTube channel JetLag Warriors.

“We prefer to stay inside and be safe. Even though we miss travelling a lot, the MCO here is not too bad.

“Luckily we have a grocery store on the ground level of where we are. We are staying with our Malaysian friend so we have access to a kitchen which is awesome. He also happens to be a boxing coach, so we train with him every day.

“Our biggest challenge is staying connected as we find the data service quite slow in Malaysia, ” says the couple.

According to Döscher, who is a seasoned traveller, his trip to Malaysia during the health crisis has been an unprecedented experience abroad.

“The city looks like a ghost town. I have never seen a huge city like KL so empty. And in front of every supermarket, there are security guards to check your temperature. At some places, I had to write down my contact details every time I entered. That was a bit strange in the beginning, but I have gotten used to it already.

“I am still having a good time here; I try to make the best out of it. I can’t change the situation and it’s the same right now everywhere around the world, so I am not complaining about things I cannot change, ” he shares.

Too expensive to fly

Couple Steve Greig, 29, and Ivana Wibowo, 31, who were also holidaying in Malaysia when the MCO was implemented, have decided to do the same thing as Döscher – stay on and wait for the Covid-19 crisis in the country to settle down.

The Canadian couple has been travelling full time since January last year. They only started noticing how serious the Covid-19 situation was getting when countries began to close their borders.

“Now, some concerns are that we don’t know what our next move is. Flight ticket prices have doubled, everything is closed and not accessible, ” Greig and Wibowo offer in a joint email reply.

Döscher, who is currently in Kuala Lumpur, will wait out the coronavirus situation here – or at least until the end of the MCO period.

“My plan is to stay here until the MCO is finished. There is no other country around South-East Asia which is open for tourists at the moment, so I can’t travel anywhere else.

“I like it here in Malaysia, because of the friendly people. Everyone speaks really good English, the food is also very good and the prices are not as high like in Singapore, for example.

Döscher, who was in Melaka before the MCO began, is glad that he managed to move to KL.

“There are more hotels and supermarkets here. I am happy to be in KL, ” he shares. In fact, Döscher has been documenting his holiday experience during the MCO through vlogs (video logs) posted on his YouTube channel, Ken Abroad.

Some of the videos show him heading out to buy groceries and other essentials at deserted shopping malls in the city. There are also posts which depict him sampling local delicacies, bought through take-away services, which he then tries alone in his room.

Waiting it out

During the MCO period, Malaysian citizens and Permanent Residents are not allowed to travel abroad. The same kind of travel ban, however, is not imposed on international visitors who wish to return to their home country.

Although there are restrictions placed on the entry of all international visitors into the country, tourists and foreign nationals are allowed to leave.

Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB), in a statement posted online, assures that all airports in the country continue to stay open during the MCO.

“Airports are categorised as an essential service, so all our airports will continue to operate, ” MAHB states, assuring that there are no restrictions on both international and domestic flight operations.

“Any decision to cancel flights will be at the discretion of the airline companies. Passengers are advised to check with the respective airline companies on your flight schedules.”

Covid-19: Stranded tourists in Malaysia staying put; feel safe under MCO

Ken Döscher had been looking forward to his first trip to Malaysia. The business student from Germany had always been captivated by the country’s pristine nature, beautiful beaches and exciting cosmopolitan vibe.

But when Döscher, 28, finally made his anticipated sojourn to Malaysia in early March this year, he never expected to stay way past his intended holiday period.

Like many travellers, Döscher is stranded abroad due to the worldwide travel bans and restrictions, which were implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus. In Malaysia, the movement control order (MCO) was implemented on March 18.

“Before coming to Malaysia, I saw that there were only a few hundred cases here, so I was not worried at all, ” says Döscher.

However, the number of reported coronavirus cases significantly spiked, which subsequently led to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announcing the MCO on the evening of March 16.

“That was the first time I realised that I was going to be affected by the Covid-19 crisis, ” Döscher recalls.

Yeah if tomorrow rally still ongoing, high chance will break 0.40...

Talking some sense..?

This is a Pn government that does not care about the country’s economy. These companies pay hundreds of millions in taxes each but they are not allowed. Genting is the best example. Where are the funds coming from to pay the COVID-19 initiatives in the tens of billions. Arab donors?

Happy

So if choose Mamak, back to square one of his open racism and religious extremism, again, again and again?

DAP should stand in all seats come GE15?

And why would they do that???

What proportion of 222 seats can they win?

89.7%?

Cheers bro,g9.

Hehe*

Talk number one, because I bought all my arb shares @0.10, so whatever he say I also can follow his call price or maybe more lower price than him......hebe

RoboTop ,I'm waiting to buy back ARBB bcoz its already below 30c as I anticipated. Tomorrow I can get ARBB at 26c. See you there moron.
15/06/2020 3:46 PM

I am waiting at 0.20, can get this special price ? If yes hoseh lo

hehe

Take a good look at Kelantan and Trengganu...WOW they have shown great economic development?! Are qualified to say about economics. LOL! They can't even pay their own state govt servant!

QueenElizebeth IV, This has nothing to do with racist. Take your fixation somewhere else that may be relevant, not here.

Foo yoh

Yes, we all, the nons and the silent majority malays that truly believe in religion of good morals, should rise against the state sponsored racism policies !!!

You think everyone is like us meh? See something not right instantly do something! Chase those faggots till the end of the road and make them suffer!

RAMPAGEGODLIKE, if mind444 talk with his anus, I think everyday many people with smell his fart that comes out from his mouth! Hehe

Talk number one, I sembang sembang only while waiting for THEREALDEAL DREAM, PEACE BRO!

Because of wuhan virus, many investors earn tons of moni

A country that exports Rohingyas to Malaysia can be so cocky? Malaysia ought to teach them a lesson.
So what do we do now. Give them citizenship so that they can produce a dozen and vote in future?

Go ahead with your tiananmen event... don't be confused when you came home coughing and hard to breathe.

Luckily HK got rich before it was part of China.

Funny opposition state govts are all in the dark.....they will pay for their business and people of these states will make them pay for the folly they made....

Hope to see the rioters staging a champagne drinking party now that they get US to sanction Hong Kong....
Celebrating.....

That's exactly what's wrong.. going on with china ways.
china should learn to assimilate itself with hk instead of advocating for more secession.

ChinaDragon speaking beep beep:
The best Trump decision made over the last three years, well done. I hope his decision would stop American products (eg. agriculture/seafood/fruit produces, electrical machinery, art and antiques, etc. etc.) selling to Hong Kong. This would definitely reduce Hong Kong trade deficit of $33.4 billion with US, Hurrah! HongKongers could save some more money for themselves or retiring their bank mortgages earlier.
Finally Trump should really mind his own business especially USA is ON FIRE over the week, for example, over 100,000 death of coronavirus, economy is still free fall, spreading conspiracy on Joe Scarborough in his tweets, Central Park racist incident, murder in Minnesota, Americans were outrage for Trump tweets threat that 'looting' will lead to 'shooting', inequality in USA, Twitter CEO finally told Trump his organisation will point out Trump’s Incorrect or Disputed Information, etc. etc. Any sensible responsible President/Prime Minister would fix up its own problems before minding other country’s own business. However Trump is consistently ignoring all American problems such as refusing to even acknowledge on the day when US coronavirus death reached 100,000, the seriousness of coronavirus earlier and kept playing down the coronavirus threat, but the best one must be advising Americans to inject disinfectant into their body to cure coronavirus, etc. etc.

Chase those Arm robbers until they run into a malay kampung, Seeing them got ravage by us! malay folks there afraid come out to help them! Pity

haha beh tahan

U r late as always MoneyMaker168, remember few years ago when we kick arss 5 idiot arm robbers. haha

Cantek! One worm got caught, the other worms are those always talk with TRD......

Hold it right there DoubleProsperity, one more HIGHLIGHT......

That Son of a bit.ch have never buy Transformers movie tickets before, 没有入门票means连资格都没有， 还来说话？放屁fart you know?

If not mistaken his father looks like a duck, so he must be 100% confirm a gigolo!

If no goat no chicken, then duck lo

Hahaha geary likes to eat shet? Hahaha

Nah. geary it's you stinky anus fackface geary

Bull inside bear? I think its bullshet inside your mouth geary.

Guys, Haha geary hairy arse stink like donkey's backside, haha

And then Geary black smelly ball frosted...!!!

with a worldwide daily infection rate of 100k cases, how is that the "pandemic is already coming to a natural end"????????????

China's interest in Blockchain is to do without the US$. Disallowing China in the existing payment system will speed things up. The dollar in the new payment system can be set to peg with the US dollar, but no US$ is actually needed.

Really*

If you rwally cut China off from the payment system..... it means War.