Embassies must look after foreigners in Malaysia 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.

He said this while citing reports that Bangladeshi workers were running out of food during the movement control order period.

"Each foreign embassy must take responsibility to ensure their citizens get the necessary aid," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

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.

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.

[More to follow] - Mkini