MAS explains 'pink tag' passenger cleared under Health Ministry guidelines

 

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has clarified that a passenger spotted wearing a pink Covid-19 wristband on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan on Jan 2 was cleared to board under the Health Ministry guidelines. 

This came after another passenger demanded an explanation of the incident, which occurred on flight MH1276, in a viral social media post. 

MAS said the flight mentioned in the Facebook post was a same-day connecting flight for the passenger with the pink bracelet who was on a journey from Phnom Penh to Kuantan.

“As per the Health Ministry's Guideline Annex 9 (Guidelines for the Entry Point Screening of Travellers), the passenger (with the pink wristband) was cleared by the ministry to continue his onward journey to Kuantan after being assessed by the Port of Entry Health and Quarantine Office,” it said in a statement today.

A pink wristband is issued by the Health Ministry to individuals who are undergoing home surveillance - usually travellers under quarantine, individuals who are Covid-19 positive or close contacts. 

MAS further pledged its commitment to providing a safe journey for both passengers and crew guided by aviation health procedures placed by the Health Ministry, World Health Organization (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Section C 2.3 of Annex 9 in the Health Ministry guideline states that travellers transiting from overseas at any point of entry in Malaysia are allowed to proceed to their domestic destination except those who are symptomatic, positive cases and close contacts. 

This ruling is only applicable to Peninsular Malaysia.

Flight attendants 'equally shocked' 

On Jan 5, a woman who boarded the same flight as the passenger seen wearing the pink wristband took to Facebook to lament her frustration at MAS for its lack of explanation of the passenger’s presence on the flight.

She claimed the flight attendants were “equally as shocked” that the passenger was on the flight, and that all remaining passengers on board were notified of the incident.

She added that at her time of writing, three days after the incident had occurred, MAS had not effectively addressed the issue. - Mkini