Foreign students can return to campus soon, except those from UK

 

International students will be allowed to return to their respective campuses to resume their studies for the 2021 academic year, effective Jan 1, except those from the United Kingdom (UK) due to the latest Covid-19 situation in that country.

Senior Minister (Security) Ismail Sabri Yaakob said also included are existing students resuming their studies and new students who received offers from the country’s public and private higher learning institutions.

"Apart from getting a place at the university, they must have secured accommodation as well, as we do not want them to come here first then to find a place to stay.

"Once everything is in place prior to their arrival, only then we will allow them to return here,” he said.

Ismail was speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on the development of the movement control order today.

He said the government also agreed to allow foreign students at international and private schools to return here accompanied by a guardian, also effective Jan 1.

However, he said this is subject to existing students whose applications have been approved and who obtained a visa from the Immigration Department.

Ismail said all students and their guardians must comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set, including undergoing a swab test three days prior to leaving for Malaysia as well as at the entry point and undergo 10 days quarantine at a quarantine centre.

“The cost of the Covid-19 test must be borne by students or their guardians. The detailed SOPs and conditions for this will be announced by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE),” he said.

Asked whether Malaysian students will also be allowed to return to campuses in January, Ismail said the MOHE will make an announcement on the matter.

Meanwhile, on whether the government will ban flights from the UK following the discovery of a more infectious Covid-19 variant, he said the matter would be decided after obtaining a risk assessment from the Ministry of Health (MOH).

“As for the new strain situation in the UK, as mentioned by the director-general of Health (Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah), we are still monitoring. We will get a report from the MOH in a special meeting of the National Security Council.

“If further action is needed, then we will announce it. Let the MOH make a risk assessment first,” he said.

He also stressed that Malaysia’s international borders are still closed except in certain cases.

The media reported that some countries such as in Europe had blocked flights from Britain after the finding of a new strain in London which was spreading quickly. 

On the government’s plans towards reopening the country’s international borders, Ismail said the government is still monitoring the matter.

“Thus far, we are looking at it. The Foreign Ministry will be involved as well. The situation may change in the near future. There are plans but we will see the current situation first before we announce anything,” he said.

- Bernama