Let returning Malaysians quarantine at home, govt urged

JOHOR BARU: The mandatory 14-day hotel-based quarantine for Malaysians returning from Singapore under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) scheme should be reviewed, says the Malaysia-Singapore Workers Task Force.

Its president Dayalan Sreebalan said all Malaysians returning from across the Causeway have to undergo the quarantine at hotels here that have been designated as quarantine centres.

“With Singapore recording fewer than five new Covid-19 cases per day within the last two weeks, is there a need for returning Malaysians to undergo quarantine at hotels where they must bear the cost themselves, which is more than RM2,100?“The government, in particular the Health Ministry, should take into consideration the high cost as many Malaysians are facing financial problems,” he said here yesterday.

Instead, Dayalan suggested these Malaysians be allowed to quarantine themselves at home after going through a swab test.

“The majority of Malaysians who have returned from Singapore have already completed their two vaccination doses over there,” he noted.

Since May 13, Malaysia has imposed a strict 14-day quarantine for travellers entering the country from Singapore under the PCA.

This came after Singapore reported the spread of new Covid-19 variants in the community.

Previously, travellers under the PCA scheme were required to serve only a seven-day home quarantine and undergo a swab test.