Selangor Journal
A general view of Penang. — Picture by UNSPLASH

Penang wants Federal govt to temporarily suspend medical tourism

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 19 — The Penang government has appealed to the federal government to consider a temporary suspension of the entry of medical tourists into the state.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today said the state government fully understood that only the federal government could make the decision to suspend medical tourism.

“We were caught unprepared for it and the decision was made without informing us. Although it comes under federal jurisdiction, I think the state which is at the receiving end, should be informed,” he told reporters here.

He also said that the State Secretary had sent a letter to the Malaysia Immigration Department regarding the arrival of medical tourists at the Penang International Airport after a technical committee meeting on Aug 18.

“Since the minister said that we could write to them, we have already done so and hope that they will consider the views of the Penang state government on this issue,” he added.

On Aug 17, Penang called for a halt on medical tourism after an uninformed medical charter flight from Medan, Indonesia arrived in Penang on Aug 14, carrying medical tourists including three Indonesian patients.

On Aug 18, Senior Ministry (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said at a press conference that state governments were not allowed to impose their own regulations on social and business activities to prevent any clash with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) implemented at the federal level.

He told the state governments to refer to the Special Ministerial Meeting on the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) prior to implementing any SOP related to the recovery movement control order currently in force.

He also warned that state governments could be challenged in court if they enforced their own regulations and took action.

— Bernama

 

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