PETALING JAYA: Only 400 Malaysians working in Singapore are allowed to return each day, and they will be quarantined for two weeks before being released.
Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said those wishing to return to Malaysia must also apply for an entry permit from the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore.
“They must apply via email to stmsg@mhc.org.sg at least two days before the travel date, ” said Ismail, adding that 900 Malaysians in Singapore had so far applied to return home.
He also corrected a police statement last Saturday on the process of applying for permission for inter-state travel within Malaysia, with the police statement saying that such travels are allowed between May 1 and May 3.
Ismail Sabri clarified that those who wish to make such travels have until May 1 to apply for permission through the Gerak Malaysia app or to fix an appointment with the police.
“We are gathering data first. We will come up with a standard operating procedure after a meeting between the National Security Council (NSC), the police and the Health Ministry.
“We appreciate the SOP prepared by the police. But we must discuss with the NSC and the Health Ministry first, with the proposed SOP brought to a special ministerial meeting for approval.
“Allowing people stranded in kampungs to return to cities is not as straightforward as making arrangements for students stranded on campuses to return home.
“Campuses are green zones (no Covid-19 cases for more than a month), whereas we do not know the status of those stranded elsewhere in Malaysia.
“We will also carry out Covid-19 tests for students staying off campus, before allowing them to return home, ” he said.
Ismail Sabri also said the police and the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission had taken stern action against those spreading fake news.
“To date, 238 investigation papers have been opened, of which 170 cases are still under investigation, 24 were charged in court, 13 had pleaded guilty and 11 were issued warnings.
“Before forwarding any dubious message, please verify it at sebenarnya.my, ” said Ismail Sabri.
He also expressed disappointment over the number of people caught breaching the movement control order (MCO), which rose from 386 cases on Friday to 557 cases on Saturday.
“I was happy to note a decline in the number of people caught breaching the MCO for three consecutive days. But (on Saturday) it went up again, ” said the Defence Minister.
He also reminded those living in green zones not to let their guard down. “The MCO has yet to be lifted, even if there are no new cases in green zones, ” he said.
He added that a total of 446,024 vehicles were inspected at 824 roadblocks nationwide on Saturday.
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