Despite earlier anticipation that Pangkor Island will be open to visitors on Nov 1, 2021, Perak Menteri Besar has just announced that the reopening will not be rushed.
This is in view of the safety an health of the visitors.
“For Pangkor, we have to take into consideration the fishermen, the local residents and traders as we do not want new infections that will cause not only Pangkor Island to be placed under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) but the whole of Perak as well.
“That would be unfortunate. Therefore, we have to look at the travel bubble programme which is being tried out for the first time in Langkawi.
“A period of two weeks is needed for us to see the effects since the travel bubble was launched on September 16.
“If there are no problems, surely we will allow Pangkor Island to be reopened to the public,” he said at a press conference.
He also added that unlike Langkawi, there are no flights to Pangkor.
“The only way to Pangkor is by ferries and boats. People will be crowd at the jetties and if the congestion is not dealt with properly, infections can occur,” he said.
Earlier, Perak state exco for Housing, Local Government and Tourism, Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi had announced that Pangkor Island was expected to be reopened from Nov 1 only to visitors who had been fully vaccinated.