Embassies must look after foreigners in M'sia during MCO – minister
CORONAVIRUS | It is the responsibility of foreign embassies to look after their respective citizens in Malaysia, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Ismail said the embassies will have to liaise with the respective district disaster management committee, and that the government will help with facilitating the aid, such as procuring food and so on.
CORONAVIRUS | It is the responsibility of foreign embassies to look after their respective citizens in Malaysia, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Ismail said the embassies will have to liaise with the respective district disaster management committee, and that the government will help with facilitating the aid, such as procuring food and so on.
"Each foreign embassy must take responsibility to ensure their citizens get the necessary aid," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.
He said this after citing reports that Bangladeshi workers were running out of food during the movement control order period.
There are reportedly some six million foreign workers in Malaysia according to unofficial estimates.
Asked whether refugees will get help, Ismail replied: "Same, it's the same for refugees. The government won't allow citizens local or foreign to go hungry."
It is unclear if he meant that embassies must also look after refugees, or if the government will be helping them.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, there are some 178,990 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia as of February.
This includes some 101,010 Rohingyas, who are effectively stateless due to Myanmar's refusal to grant them citizenship.
Meanwhile, on a separate matter, Ismail said Malaysian scholars who have completed their studies but are stuck overseas due to travel restrictions, will receive aid from their sponsors.
This includes Mara, Public Service Department, and Petronas scholars, among others.
Ismail said the sponsors will help cover the cost for accommodation, food and necessities.
Asked about news that a private agency is chartering flights to bring back Malaysian students in Egypt, the senior minister replied that the government welcomes such efforts.
However, he said private agencies must liaise with the Immigration Department and National Security Council.
He added that Malaysians returning on privately chartered flights are also subject to mandatory quarantine at the designated government facilities.
The quarantine order for all those coming into Malaysia from abroad comes into effect today.
However, Ismail clarified that Sabah and Sarawak residents can transit from Kuala Lumpur to their respective states and be quarantined there.
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