PETALING JAYA: After two days of being stranded at the airport, when they first had to sleep on benches and floors, seven Malaysians have finally been allowed into the country.

       And one of the passengers said that all he wanted to do now was get a good meal and a comfortable hotel room to rest in.

       The British national, who has been staying in Malaysia for seven years, was among the group of travellers who were stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after they were refused entry into the Philippines by the immigration authorities due to a misunderstanding between the two countries regarding the use of each other’s national vaccination certificates.

       “We will head to our hotel and then go for some dinner to celebrate a successful resolution,” said the man who did not want to be named.

       “Who knows, maybe we can have a nasi lemak and some San Miguel soft drinks to toast the partnership of the two counties,” he told The Star yesterday.

       He said that he and several others were the final batch of travellers who were released and allowed into the country at about 6pm yesterday.

       “We initially thought it may not be resolved but we are really pleased and very impressed. We were really taken care of and we are very happy with the outcome.

       “We are delighted to be granted entry into the Philippines and we look forward to a pleasant stay now that we are through the border,” he said, adding that everyone was given the all clear and need not be quarantined.

       He said they were grateful to all those involved at the ministries and embassies of both Malaysia and the Philippines for resolving the matter so quickly.

       “We were taken good care of during our stay (after the first day). We were relocated to a private lounge and were provided with food, drink and access to a warm shower.

       “The Malaysian ambassador visited us to give us regular updates. He told us the Philippines and Malaysia have a close relationship and are working hard to resolve the issue quickly.

       “In the interim, we were provided with such good care. This is when Asean is at its best!” he said.

       On Sunday, it was reported earlier that a total of 15 travellers from Malaysia who arrived on the 8.30am flight from Kuala Lumpur were stranded at the airport when they were not allowed into the country.

       A passenger said they were informed by the Philippines immigration authorities that the MySejahtera digital certificate was not accepted as proof of vaccination.

       They were denied an entry permit, while their passports were confiscated. They were also told that they would be deported today.

       The passenger said that they were told by the Philippine immigration authorities that they needed to either have been vaccinated in another country such as Singapore or have the World Health Organisation’s International Certificate of Vaccination.

       The 15 passengers were reported to have travelled to the Philippines for business, personal and humanitarian reasons.