The optional relaxation of quarantine duration from 10 days to three days is aimed at opening up the economy, said Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Adham said the order, which currently applies to ministers returning from overseas, may be made available to business travellers and the public next.
"We start with ministers first because it is easy to make an order before we open it up to the public... maybe businesspersons," he said when contacted.
At present, the relaxed quarantine rules only apply to Malaysian ministers if they follow a strict itinerary during their overseas trips that minimises exposure to the Covid-19 virus.
He said foreign dignitaries and businesspersons will also be subject to stringent itineraries if they are to be allowed the relaxed quarantine.
As for the public, it will depend on whether regulations are fully adhered to.
Explaining his rationale, he said the 10-day quarantine period had been a deterrent to investors and foreign dignitaries who want to come to Malaysia.
"The reason the government is doing this is to make sure we can open up our economy.
"Normally we ask for a swab test for three days before departure plus seven days of quarantine in our country. So that's three plus seven.
"If they don't do a swab test before departure, they have to get a negative swab test at the international entry point and quarantine for 10 days.
"That's why investors don't come, foreign leaders don't visit... and because of that investments don't come in," he said when contacted.
He said that last year, during the first movement control order (MCO), the country lost RM2.4 billion per day.
Under MCO 2.0, he said, losses were at RM600 million per day.
Meanwhile, Adham also drew a comparison with Indonesia, which did not quarantine Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin when the latter made a day trip last week.
"Why is it that Indonesia, despite having so many infections, still did not quarantine Muhyiddin? It's because they want to open up the economy," he said.
Critics have panned the relaxed quarantine rules, saying the Covid-19 virus does not distinguish between ministers or ordinary Malaysians.
The 10-day quarantine period is based on clinical data, which Adham said was valid. However, he said this was not all about science.
"This is not about science totally. This is about how we regulate who will go abroad.
"Abroad, they don't have to quarantine, but they have to quarantine when they return. This is not fair," he said.
He also brushed off calls for him to resign.
"That's ok. That doesn't matter. I have to go to the principles.
"Before, I can lock the country. Now, I can open the country. I have to do something good for our nation," he said. - FMT
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