[ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: Must use import to load ES Module

Issue

NodeJS MJS scripts cannot be started: 

[ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: Must use import to load ES Module

[ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: require() of ES Module

Environment

• CloudLinux
• NodeJS
• Passenger

Solution

As a workaround, the following "cjs" wrapper can be used to load esm script:

# cat start.cjs
(() => import('./start.js'))();

and then this start.js(start.cjs) will run successfully.

Cause

Limitation of the passenger function because it can only load common js (cjs) scripts