On the latest update regarding entering Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic, it had been reported that all arrivals in Malaysia are to pay for their own mandatory quarantine.
Malaysia’s Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced on 20 May that from 1 June onwards, Malaysians who wish to enter Malaysia will be allowed to pay 50 per cent of the cost for COVID-19 quarantine. The reported full cost was said to be RM150 ($48.75) per day.
He said that this decision was made at the National Security Council meeting.
Mr Ismail Sabri had also mentioned that non-citizens like spouses and permanent residents will have have to pay the cost in full, as reported by The Star.
“Non-citizens including spouses and dependents who are of permanent resident status will have to pay the charges in full.”
Besides that, the Council decided that the people who want to return to Malaysia will be required to sign a letter of undertaking to agree to bear the quarantine costs. Mr Ismail Sabri added that the flight passengers disembarking in Malaysia will be required to have the aforementioned letter.
“The signing of the letter can be done at Malaysian Embassies and High Commissions. After the agreement is signed, the office will also issue a letter permitting them to return to Malaysia.”
“The Immigration Department will also be issuing a directive to all airline companies to make it a condition for passengers disembarking in Malaysia to have the letter.”
The Malaysian government had been enforcing quarantine for all Malaysians returning from aboard since 3 April.
As of the date of reporting, a total of 38,371 Malaysians who returned from overseas were quarantined and 30,200 people have completed the process and were allowed to go home.
On 14 May, Mr Ismail Sabri also revealed that some spouses and family members of Malaysian citizens had refused to pay for the quarantine costs when the Government had clearly stated that it would only bear the cost for returning Malaysians.
