Stressful experience of returning home to Malaysia from Singapore.

This is a story of my stressful experience of how I left Singapore to Kota-kinabalu on 17th August 2020. 

   When everyone saw the word Covid 19, the words expected coming out from our mouth is a big deeeeep sigh with....“Ahh…. What next or what now?”

    Some not even bothered to look at it because many were fed up with the word "Covid". But for someone like me, I was desperately looking for clues on how to get home to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from Singapore. And believe me, sadly I couldn’t find anything that helped me, when searching Google. So after my bad experience, I decided to share to others, who also were also making an attempt to return to Sabah, Malaysia.

    As we all know, many were stranded in Singapore year 2020, not knowing what to do next. The fear of unknown was stressful. Many people don’t know what it feels like unless you are in that situation, especially those who were desperate to fly home across South China Sea.

    Even with Google, I found no helpful information because the SOP kept changing, almost everyday resulting in mayhem and confusion. Staff from various department, government and airline unsure of the rules.

    Yes, I went through with the fear of the “Unknown”, before going home. I had sleepless nights for weeks and couldn’t concentrate on my work. The moment I managed to board a plane to Kota Kinabalu, I felt a huge relief flowing throughout my body, which in words cannot describe. 

    In the end I was so relieve to reach my homeland safe and sound.

    At that time, when I was in Singapore, I was in a very difficult situation deciding what to do. Like most expats there, I was desperate to get home. My direct flights from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu had been cancelled many times. These flights used to be twice daily, then became daily, then weekly, then no flights at all. The Airlines sent apologies and offered a few options for you to choose - whether you want a refund or changed flight to the next available (which was useless) or transfer the fare into the airline credit account (can use to purchase the next flight available).

    I wasn’t brave enough to resign from my work, because if I did, I would need to give a one-month notice to my company and my accommodation, and who knows by one month, the SOP of travel pass may change again, or a 2^nd Lock Down may happen, or no flight available at all. At that time, I felt that anything, everything could happen at any time. These events could have meant me ending up, in deep shit, left stranded, out of work and no place to stay. With no job and no money to pay for anything for an average income person like me to be trapped in the most expensive country in the world, is scary. 😰😰You may say I am “Kiasu”, the famous word used in Singapore meaning fear to lose but for this, I didn’t want to take the risk.

    On the 10^th August 2020,  Singapore and Malaysia government officially released a scheme to allow essential Malaysian and Singaporean travelers to travel between the 2 countries.

    On the 12^th Aug 2020, there were news that Air Asia would fly again from Singapore to Malaysia but only to KL. I made an effort to go to Changi Airport and searched for help at the customer service counter of Air Asia. Why I chose Air Asia was because it has the most flights from KL to KK. There were about 6 flights from KL to KK per day. Wow! 

    I booked the 1^st flight available on 17^th August. One of the Air Asia staff at the customer service counter was very helpful. She helped me to book and arrange my flight in a way that only need to transit in KL for 4 hours. She also reassured me that I didn’t have to get out of KLIA airport (SOP: quarantine 14 days on any port entry in Malaysia) and that my baggage would be transferred straight to KK. Oh! What a relief to hear such good news.😂😂

            With the flight ticket, I went on to apply for Travel pass from our High Commission Malaysia, Singapore. To be honest, it was also so stressful to apply this as I had tried so many times to get it right to get one. Any slightest mistake, including a dot or tick, the application will be needed to restart as the application form online was "case sensitive".

Especially this one that had a tiny "v" sign which many, like me had overlooked.

In this little "v" will lead to a page that need to state whether we are Malaysian resident / PR / student pass.

As a Malaysian , click the Malaysian Resident Pass.

After submission, I received my "Travel Pass" within 24hrs which had a grace period of 1 month. In case a flight is cancelled,I could still fly on a different date as long as it's within 1 month after the pass was issued.

AirAsia staff reminded me to reconfirm the flight again on 16^th Aug (1 day before flight scheduled) as flight might change again. I was also informed that the rules might changed due to the situation and I might need to be quarantine for 14 days in KL before I could board another plane to KK which means another 14 days with the total of 28 days quarantine!😓

So much heartache, disappointment and frustration with that news. Not only did I have to worry about flight cancellation at last minute but, with news telling me that I may need to quarantine in both KL and KK, each port for 14 days was just too much for me to handle. I was in tears.😭😭😭

After speaking to my family and with their encouragement, my spirit lifted up, I decided to get on with it. By hook or by crook I needed to reach KL. So, I told myself to be mentally prepared in taking risk of “28 Days quarantine”. Another sleepless night of unknown fear awaited me.

By 9pm. I received an email from AirAsia. My heart jumped and I felt goose bumps all over my body because everytime I received this emails, they were to inform that flight was cancelled. But this time, it was to inform me that the flight would still be on schedule, Phew! 😅 This email only advised to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before flying due to Covid 19 document checks.

I set my alarm clock to get up early just in case I over slept and planned to go to airport by 9am on my travelling day.

Luck was not on my side. I was just going to leave my room with my bags to book a transport to the airport when the heavens opened and torrential rain came that morning. 😥😥I waited till 10am but the rain continued heavily. I wanted to cry yet I couldn’t. With the last strength left in me, telling myself “I am going home” made me move my bags through the rain, I was drenched from head to toe, but that didn’t stop me from it getting into the taxi.

The moment I was in, and on my way to the airport, I said to myself, “At last, it’s done!”💪💪and another weight lifted from my shoulder.

Upon arrival at Changi Airport 1, I was still full of tension. After checking in my bag, with the air ticket, signed letter of undertaking and the travel pass issued by the Malaysian embassy and uploading “My sejahtera” on my phone. everything was settled. I was reminded by airline staff that my luggage would go straight to KK and I would be on transit only for 4 hours. Hooray! Another weight removed from my shoulder.

Inside the departure hall, the airport was so quiet, not many passengers were seen. Most were essentials travelers like me. There were less than 20 passengers in the whole plane! Cabin crew were geared in PPE (gown, googles, mask and gloves). New uniform for cabin crew year 2020😜😜

When the plane departed at 1:30 pm, another weight was released from my shoulder, hahahah…. At least I was flying to KL!

The plane landed at 2.30 pm at KLIA2. Passengers were strictly ordered to be seated and  attended only to our overhead cabin bags in rows. I was lucky that I was in seat No 6D. From 1 - 6, I was the only passenger.😂😂😂

The moment we disembarked from the aircraft, the health authority, police were already there to escort me to the health authority area. They asked for my necessary info and to fill in the form inside “my sejetera” on the phone. Luckily, I had internet connection on my phone on arrival.

A rapid swab test was done on arrival at KLIA2 at my own cost for Rm 60. Anyway, I don't mind, as long as I could board the next plane home.

 I was escorted to a screened area for swab test on my left nostril. It was not comfortable but it was not horrible either. The health authority was gentle enough and advised me to stay still and not to struggle. Within seconds it’s done.

 I was instructed to show this pink slip to the officer to received my result which would be ready by 2 hours .

Then I was moved to another area where I waited for my result with the rest of the passengers who had gone through the same test. We were not allowed to move anywhere except for toilet needs.

Light snack in a green bag was given while waiting. There was a bottle of 500 ml drinking water, a box of juice, a small packet of biscuits and a chocolate cake. I only took the water and gave the rest to the cleaner at the airport.

Around 5 pm, result was out and a BIG “HOORAY”…tested Negative for Covid 19….ALL the remaining  weight lifted from my shoulder. Wow!

After that the police escorted me to the departure hall where I needed to scan the QR code before getting on the plane to Kota Kinabalu.

The moment the plane lifted off the ground of KLIA2, my mind was screaming away, “KK, here I come!!!”

The plane landed at 9 pm at Kota Kinabalu International airport. Again, like in KL, I was escorted to the health authority who asked me where I wanted to be quarantined. I was given 2 options. Free accommodation (hostel type) or hotel at my own expenses. I chose the latter. I was assigned to hotel Capital, a 3 star which was right in heart of the city facing the Gaya Island.

With my baggage, I was transported in a government van to the assigned Hotel.

This ended my story of travelling in Covid 19 exercise Part 1…....

"A roller coaster journey" I ever had in my life for travelling(copied that word from a colleague of mine 😅😅😅)

I will continue my Part Two which was about the 14 DAYs of my daily life being Quarantine at Capital Hotel. Only if you are still interested of course. If you are, read on "Transferred to a luxury hotel on landing"

Before I end this chapter, I had included a little info about RGL and PCA found in the news of mystar which was published on the 23rd Aug 2020.

Limited cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia under two schemes - the PCA and the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) - began last Monday.

The RGL facilitates short-term travel for essential business or official purposes between both sides for up to 14 days, while the PCA allows Singapore and Malaysia residents with long-term immigration passes for business and work in the other country to enter for work.

People who enter under the PCA scheme must stay in the country they work in for at least 90 days before they can return on home leave.

Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents do not need the PCA to return to Singapore. However, they still need to serve stay-home notices that will be reduced from 14 to seven days from Sept 1.