Klang Valley Enters Phase 3 Of NRP From October 1st

Prime Minister Dato Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob annnounced yesterday that the Klang Valley (Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya) will enter Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan, making the most populous region in Malaysia’s stint in Phase 2 some 20 days following its Phase 2 transition on September 10th.

The announcement included Melaka, which will also enter Phase 3, and Kedah, which will move into Phase 2 from October 1st, joining Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Johor, and Sabah. This leaves no state in Phase 1 according to the NRP.

Mainly, what this means for citizens and residents within Phase 3 is the resuming of all economic activities, including ones that remained prohibited under Phase 2, including sports events, cinemas, live performances, theatre, amusement parks. Spas, beauty salons, and other grooming-related businesses are also allowed, but on an appointment basis only.

That being said, nightlife activities such as pubs and clubs are still on the no-no list for the time being, but given how quickly the Klang Valley stayed in the previous phase, Phase 4 might not be too far off.

As of September 29, states within the Klang Valley has cumulatively tallied over an 81% fully vaccination rate of its total population while its adult (18+) population is over 100% fully vaccinated according to MKN data, closely followed by Labuan (98.5%) and Negri Sembilan (97%) - both of which are in Phase 4.

Of course, interstate travel is still not allowed apart from within Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya. Malaysians are also still allowed to pursue leisure tourism to the travel bubble destination of Langkawi.

National Recovery Council chairman and former PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has stated that the government expects interstate borders to be reopened as early as mid-October following the prime minister’s announcement that this move will be made once the count of fully vaccinated adults breaches 90%.

Contrary to previous reports, the addition of Pulau Tioman, Genting Highlands, and Melaka to this travel bubble green list has now been put on hold due to nationwide tourism and travel seemingly coming just around the corner.