PUTRAJAYA MAY 14: The Malaysian Immigration Department will take action on permanent residents (PR)and long term social visit pass holders who have undergone the compulsory quarantine for 14 days but refused to pay the quarantine costs (hotel bills).
Security Senior Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) said the government will only pay the cost of quarantine for Malaysian citizens.
“Malaysians whose spouses or any member of the family are with PR status or long term social visit passes will have to pay the quarantine cost and that is the policy of the quarantine.
“Among the actions taken by the Immigration Department on those who refused to pay the hotel bills could be the immigration facilities which they enjoy before could be cancelled,” Ismail said in his daily press conference held here today.
Meanwhile, Ismail said the Attorney General (AG) Office is now studying the case for further legal actions.
In another development, Ismail said the special committee meeting today has agreed that husband or wife who stays far apart will be given the privilege to meet the family once a week provided they make a report to the nearest police station.
Ismail said the meeting has also agreed to allow services related to animals’ welfare to operate. This includes the equestrian centre where the welfare of the animals is taken care of including feeding and cleaning the stables.
Ismail also warned the people to adhere to the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) so that the experiences in Saudi Arabia will not happen in Malaysia.
“The Saudi Arabia government did not impose a total lockdown but declare an emergency for 24 hours from May 23 until May 27.
“The government is actively taking the data of COVID-19. We do not want to be like what had happened in South Korea and China where there is a sudden rise in COVID-19 cases.
“We have given a little freedom and let us have the responsibility together to take care of ourselves, family, community, and the country by complying with the SOP,” he reiterated.
He said if the public fails to comply with the SOPs than it is feared that the Movement Control Order (MCO) would be imposed again.
In the case of two students who went back to Sabah and were detected with COVID-19, Ismail said, the students of Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) are still not allowed to leave the campus.
He said they have been into two weeks incubation period. We thought they are free from COVID-19 after staying in the campus that is free from the infections. However, all of a sudden there are new cases among the students. –Malaysia World News
