PENANG, June 15 (Sin Chew Daily) – Penang state health department has limited the number of travelers entering Penang to 70 a day once its airport reopens for international flights

Many airline companies express concern over the latest information released by the Penang health department.

Prior to the enforcement of Movement Control Order (MCO), the airport handled over 20 international flights a day. The number of daily arriving air travelers was a lot higher than 70.

Penang health officers confirmed that the health department had limited the number of travelers entering the state by 70 a day. Additionally, all international flights are required to arrive at Penang airport in the morning. The Malaysia Airports will manage the entry of travelers at the airport. 

"Each traveler is required to take a COVID-19 screening test at the airport before proceeding to the immigration checkpoint," he said.

Chen Zhong Jian, manager of an airline company, said the Penang health department is having a meeting with airline companies at 3pm today.

He said the state health department has several months to prepare for the resumption of international flights in Penang but now it has proposed an impractical number of travelers allowed to enter the island.

"There are seven to eight airline companies operating at the Penang International Airport. More than 20 international flights arrive at the airport each day, carrying between 180 and 200 passengers. Going by the requirement of 70 passengers set by the health department, only two passengers are allowed in each flight.

"The flight crew of an airline company is about 70 in a day," he said.

He has since reflected the matter to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state exco for tourism development, arts, culture and heritage Yeoh Soon Hin.