KUALA LUMPUR: Should Malaysians remain cautious or should they be thrilled over the opportunity to travel when the nation's borders are thrown open come April 1?
This is the dilemma that Malaysians seem to be facing.
Sepharina Kow Hooi Min, 22, was quite excited and has immediately begun planning for her trips.
"For me, there is no reason to keep the borders closed longer than necessary. Some might say it is not the time or that it is dangerous. But if it's not now, then when?
"When I heard the announcement, I immediately began planning to travel abroad, somewhere towards the end of the year."
Asked if she remains concerned over Covid-19 testing or possible healthcare costs due to it, Kow said she did not.
"The Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or Antigen Rapid Test Kits (RTK-Antigen) are not a concern for me, as I'm used to getting myself tested, and I believe these tests are affordable."
While Kow is both optimistic and enthusiastic, Farid Nazmi has mixed feelings.
The avid traveller has been eagerly awaiting the reopening of Malaysia's borders since 2020, when the nation went into lockdown mode in March.
Yet health concerns continue to play on his mind.
"I feel it is rather untimely as the vaccination rates, especially for the second dose and booster shots among some adults and children, especially, are still considerably low.
"But in hindsight, it's a brave step taken by the government, and I believe that the Health Ministry must have drafted measures to put in place, as well as contingency plans if our Covid-19 cases spike from reopening of the borders."
The 31-year-old freelance photographer said, however, he will put off travelling for now, until he believes it is quite safe to do so.
"Even though I am fully vaccinated, the chances of contracting the virus is still too high for me (to feel comfortable).
"It'll also be a hassle, both physically and financially, as the cost of emergency healthcare abroad is something to worry about during this pandemic.
"Hence, I've decided to just wait until it is safer and for more countries to transit into the endemic stage before planning any future travels," he said.
Meanwhile, student Mohana Priya Krishnan Kumar, 24, is worried over the reopening of the country's borders, considering the number of Covid-19 cases is still high.
"I believe that it is a bad idea to reopen our international borders next month, as we still do not have full control of the ongoing pandemic situation in our country.
"It's just not the right time to kick off this plan come April 1, as we're facing more risks of transmission, through inbound and outbound travels. Because once the border reopens, more foreigners and visitors will visit our country which may lead to a spike in new Covid-19 variants," she said.
Asked if she has any plans to travel, Priya said she will put on hold any plans for the time being, until she truly believes it is safe to travel again.
On March 8, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the reopening of the international border from April 1.
He said the decision was made based on several factors including scientific data, and comparison with other countries and their international border policies.
