KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Beginning July 24, Malaysians and foreigners coming back from overseas will have to undergo 14 days of compulsory isolation at designated quarantine stations and not at their own homes, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Ismail Sabri said the returnees would have to bear the full cost of quarantine at either the Public Training Institute (ILA) or selected hotels based on the charges previously agreed upon.
This was decided at the Special Meeting of Ministers on the Movement Control Order (MCO) today, he told a news conference on the Recovery MCO (RMCO) at Parliament building here.
Ismail Sabri said the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) together with the Health Ministry (MOH) would identify and gazette the suitable ILA or hotels as quarantine stations.
“With this decision, Malaysians wishing to return home are no longer required to take COVID-19 swab tests in the country of origin (where they are based) within three days before their departure date as they will be quarantined (on their return).
“However, foreigners are required to do the COVID-19 swab tests in their country of origin,” he added.
He said the government decided to impose the compulsory quarantine because there were still cases of people violating the standard operating procedure (SOP) for home quarantine and creating a risk of local transmission of the coronavirus.
“The government views seriously incidents of non-compliance with home quarantine SOP which have caused COVID-19 infection among family members and the local community.