Kuala Lumpur, Apr 17: Malaysia is lifting a ban imposed last week on tourists from China, Hongkong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Canada because it is satisfied with efforts in those countries to contain the deadly SARS virus, a government official said today. Meanwhile, health officials announced Malaysia's seventh probable SARS case -- a 42-year-old truck driver who visited Singapore earlier this month. He was hospitalized in stable condition, said health Deputy-Director General Ismail Merican. Eleven other people were in hospitals with suspected SARS symptoms, including a 28-year-old Australian who entered Malaysia from Singapore and a Saudi Arabian who recently visited China, Ismail said. None of them has been classified as a probable SARS case yet, he added. A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Malaysian Cabinet has decided to lift recent restrictions for most travelers from five countries hit by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Malaysia last week revoked visa-free travel for citizens of Hongkong, Vietnam and Canada, then imposed a freeze on visas for tourists from those countries, as well as China and Taiwan.
The decision to end the freeze would take effect immediately for some countries and in stages for others, the official told a news agency. Travellers from these countries must still apply for visas and be declared free of SARS-linked symptoms.
"The most important thing is a tight screening process must be in place," the official said. "There will still be some restrictions, some conditions before visas are issued." Bureau Report