Ismail Sabri: All arrivals in Malaysia to pay cost of own mandatory quarantine from June 1

PUTRAJAYA: From June 1, all those entering Malaysia will have to pay RM150 for each day they are in mandatory quarantine, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the decision was made at the National Security Council meeting and Malaysian citizens, however, will only pay 50% of the charge.

“Non-citizens including spouses and dependents who are of permanent resident status will have to pay the charges in full, ” he said on Wednesday (May 20).

Ismail Sabri said the National Security Council also decided that those who want to return to Malaysia will have to sign a letter of undertaking agreeing to bear the quarantine costs.

“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, ” he said.

The government had enforced compulsory quarantine for all Malaysians returning from abroad beginning April 3.

To date, 38,371 Malaysians who returned from overseas were quarantined and 30,200 individuals had completed the process and were allowed to go home.

On May 14, Ismail Sabri had said 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.