Govt allows non-Malaysian spouses, children to return, but with immigration approval

PETALING JAYA: The government has allowed non-Malaysian spouses and their children who are stranded overseas to enter the country, but they must first obtain permission from the Immigration Department.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government not only allowed Malaysian citizens to return to the country, but also their non-citizen spouses and children, after some of them could not do so due to border restrictions.

"This is applicable not only to the foreign spouses, but also the children of Malaysians born abroad and who are not citizens," he said in his daily press briefings on Monday (June 22).

On June 27, the Foreign Spouses Support Group urged the Immigration Department to adopt a short term measure to allow Malaysian families with mixed nationalities to remain together.

However, Ismail Sabri stressed that it was important to get the approval from the Immigration Department first to avoid the foreign spouses from being stranded at the airport or told to return to their home country.

He warned them not to attempt to enter Malaysia without the Immigration Department's approval, as they would be denied entry.

"I advise them to get the approval first, please. Do not simply fly back immediately.

"I received reports that some couples had returned to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), but they were turned away.

"Only the one with the Malaysian citizenship was allowed to enter," added Ismail Sabri.