Gov't wants to bring back Malaysians trapped in Hubei - PM

CORONAVIRUS | Putrajaya will negotiate with the government of China to allow Malaysian citizens trapped in Hubei to return to Malaysia, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

The government wants to bring them back, he told reporters in Putrajaya this afternoon.

According to him, from the government's record, there are 78 Malaysians currently trapped in the province following the Chinese government's lockdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has so far seen the death of 135 people in China.

"The Malaysians can't leave Wuhan. We want to negotiate with China so that those Malaysians who are not sick can be brought back to Malaysia.

"They will be checked upon arrival, and if there is evidence that they have the coronavirus, or if they have been there a long time, they will be placed in quarantine (for 14 days) before they are allowed to return home," Mahathir said.

So far none of the Malaysians in Wuhan has been reported to be infected by the disease.

Hundreds of US and Japanese citizens have already been evacuated from Wuhan and Hubei province, and the extraction of Australian citizens is also being planned.

Malaysians confined also facing food shortages

Mahathir, meanwhile, said that besides being trapped, Malaysians in Wuhan are also reportedly facing food shortages.

"Some have food for only four days," he said.

As such, he said if Malaysia has to send a plane to China to evacuate its citizens, the government also plans to send aid.

"We will send food, gloves and masks... because those are also in shortage," he said.

Meanwhile, on the status of the Chinese nationals being treated in Malaysia for coronavirus, the Mahathir said they have not shown any sign of worsening symptoms.

He also said tourists from China who were in the country were not considered unsafe and neither does he think that they would stay in Malaysia indefinitely.

"They will have to leave," he said.

He said those leaving Malaysia would not be subjected to health screening, as the government's concern is about those coming into the country.

 - Mkini