CORONAVIRUS | Wisma Putra is trying to help over 270 Malaysians who were stranded in India after flights from Malaysia into the country were allegedly banned in light of the Covid-19 outbreak
In a statement today, Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the ministry and the special task force on Covid-19 are looking for a resolution to help Malaysians who intended to come home.
"It is hoped that those who are stranded remain calm. Although this is beyond our jurisdiction and we have to depend on the discretion of the government there to give its approval for our people to come home, Wisma Putra will try its best to help," he said.
"We have contacted our representative there.
"MIC's top leadership also contacted me and pledged to help (them) directly," he said.
Hishammuddin denied the claim that the flight cancellations were carried out by the Malaysian government.
He pointed out the movement control order, which partially closes the country’s borders, would not affect Malaysians abroad as claimed in a viral video featuring Malaysians stranded in India.
He said Malaysians abroad were permitted to return home but would have to undergo health screenings and self-quarantine for 14 days.
As at 9am, the minister said 274 Malaysians were confirmed stranded in India, with 73 in Delhi, 200 in Chennai and one in Mumbai.
AirAsia: India banned flights from Malaysia
Earlier this morning, Malaysiakini reported that over 100 Malaysians were left stranded in airports in several parts of India, with purportedly no lodging options or funds, after their flights to Kuala Lumpur were cancelled.
In the video clip sighted by Malaysiakini, the group held a sitting protest at the entrance to the Tiruchirappalli airport in Tamil Nadu upon the cancellation of their flights home.
An airport officer could be heard claiming that the decision was made by the Malaysian government.
The officer also requested the disgruntled passengers appeal to the Malaysian consulate-general in Chennai while promising to organise a meeting with the relevant party.
When contacted last night, a Malaysian in Chennai confirmed his flight to Kuala Lumpur early on Thursday morning was cancelled.
The latter, who only wished to be known as Gunalan, said he was informed by the airlines that rescheduling of the flights would only be known after March 31.
Meanwhile, an AirAsia spokesperson told Malaysiakini that the airline was forced to cancel flights back to Kuala Lumpur as India had imposed a ban on all flights from Malaysia, effective yesterday.
"Flights can’t go there so they can’t come back," said the spokesperson.
It was reported that the Indian government temporarily banned the entry of passengers from Malaysia effectively from March 17 to March 31. This was after Malaysia announced its partial shutdown in a bid to slow escalating coronavirus cases.
As of noon yesterday, Malaysia recorded 673 Covid-19 positive cases with the country’s first two deaths.
Malaysians affected are advised to contact Malaysian missions in India: High Commission in New Delhi (+91 11 2415 9300, mwdelhi@kln.gov.my), consulate-general in Chennai (+91 44 2433 4434/35/36, mwchennai@kln.gov.my); and consulate general in Mumbai (+ 9122 2645 5751/52/55, mwmumbai@kln.gov.my)
It is understood that a number of Malaysians are also stranded in Australia and facing the same predicament.
They are advised to contact Malaysian missions Down Under: Melbourne consulate general in Melbourne (+61 3 9573 5400, mwmelbourne@kln.gov.my); consulate general in Perth (+61 8 92257055, mwperth@kln.gov.my); and high commission in Canberra (+61 2 61 200 300/310, mwcanberra@kln.gov.my).
“It is hard for our representatives there to help if they (Malaysians) do not inform (of their predicament) or are not registered with the missions,” Hishammuddin said. - Mkini
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