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PUTRAJAYA: The government has reiterated that it is only paying the bill for Malaysian citizens abroad to undergo mandatory quarantine upon their return to the country.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, however, said that non-Malays, including the spouses of citizens, should bear the costs themselves.
He said that foreign spouses and relatives who are permanent residents or holders of long-term social passes must pay the quarantine.
“As announced, the government will bear the costs of quarantining Malaysian citizens returning from abroad. If their spouse or family is not a citizen, they will have to pay the cost.”
“However, we have been told that there are some who refuse to pay their quarantine bills,” he said in a daily briefing on Thursday (May 14).
The minister, however, did not give a figure on how many had refused to pay.
Ismail Sabri said the special cabinet committee on non-health issues related to the movement control order (MCO) has decided that the Immigration Department will take the necessary measures, including the revocation of immigration facilities that have been enjoying.
“Your permanent resident status and long-term social visit pass will not be revoked.
“But if before this, they are allowed to renew their pass once every two to three years, they may have to do it every three months or so until they pay.”
“The Attorney General’s cameras will also review the appropriate legal actions that can be taken against these people,” he said.
Since April 3, the government has imposed a mandatory quarantine for Malaysians who returned from abroad.
The government will bear the cost, but foreigners will have to pay their own bill.
A total of 33,807 Malaysian citizens had been quarantined since April 3, and to date, 26,121 people had completed the process and were allowed to return home.
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