Bi-national couples rejoice over border reopening

 

Indian national Ajay Rathi, who entered Malaysia under the MyTravelPass programme, and Sabahan fiance Lyna Karim are set to marry soon.

PETALING JAYA: For bi-national couples split due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, the reopening of borders on April 1 will bring an end to the nightmare of being separated from their loved ones.

After almost two years apart, Malaysian Nurul and her Saudi Arabia-based British fiance are finally en route to tying the knot, something that was not possible a year ago.

“I was so shocked and happy to hear about the border reopening. After a long wait, I will finally be able to see my fiance,” she told FMT.

Last November, FMT reported the plight of several like Nurul, who had to call off her wedding in 2020 as her fiancé was not able to enter the country due to the lockdown. She, too, was not able to travel to see him because of family obligations here.

Since the prime minister’s announcement on Tuesday that borders will be reopened as the country transitions into the endemic phase on April 1, the couple has quickly set into motion plans to meet in May and wed in June.

Her story is not unlike many featured in the “Love Is Not Tourism” Malaysia Facebook group, which is part of a global grassroots movement dedicated to reuniting couples and families separated by travel bans and border closures.

The group’s co-founder, who wanted to be known as Elise, told FMT the government’s move to reopen borders was met with a huge sigh of relief by many of its members.

“Everyone in our group is excited about it. It’s great that couples and families will be able to reunite more easily soon,” she said.

While most members rejoiced at the government’s decision, there were some for whom it was a little late.

“We could not believe it in the beginning, we thought that it was some plan to fool us on April Fool’s Day,” Indian national Ajay Rathi told FMT.

“The government’s decision came too late, but I suppose better late than never,” said Ajay, who managed to get into the country in February via the MyTravelPass (MTP) on his 18th attempt. He is now set to marry his Sabahan fiancee in mid-March.

While the immigration department launched the MTP in October 2020 to ease the process of applying for entry or exit permits during the pandemic, many foreign spouses, partners and children saw their applications rejected.

Novita Andriyana, who used the Langkawi travel bubble, William Wong and their daughter Chloe.

No stranger to MTP rejections is Indonesian Novita Andriyana, who resorted to other ways to be reunited with Malaysian fiance William Wong after more than 20 failed attempts.

“We gave up on applying for the MTP, so we decided to use the Langkawi travel bubble,” she told FMT, as the pilot programme allows fully vaccinated international travellers like herself to enter the country, subject to SOPs like having to stay in Langkawi for seven days first and taking periodic Covid-19 tests.

“I am happy to hear about the border reopening, especially because countless other couples are still separated. This is good news for them,” said Novita, who married Wong in February. - FMT