KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Though the Malaysian government is able to identify nations which are free from Covid-19, it would still be pointless, if such nations do not want to open their borders to leisure travellers, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri has said.

She cited Australia and New Zealand as examples.

"Actually, we have already identified nations which we labelled as green zones, but we have to be realistic.

"If we only identify them as green zones and want to work with them, then they too have to open their borders to us in Malaysia,” she added.

Nancy was responding to Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan who had asked an additional question as to whether Malaysia would welcome tourists from green zone nations, as well as efforts taken to promote domestic tourism.

She added the discussions are however ongoing with several government agencies to gauge the current situation, adding that the ministry is looking at certain states or districts in nations which are labelled as green nations, rather than the nation as a whole, pointing to the increased number of Covid-19 cases in Melbourne.

"Now we are looking from a destination angle and not the nation, as destinations like Australia, the entire nation cannot be classified as green entirely, as Melbourne just got its second wave. So we can see from an aspect of Malaysia and Perth for example,” she added.