'Gov't may not be able to bring back all Malaysians stranded overseas'

CORONAVIRUS | The government may not be able to bring back every Malaysian stranded at other countries due travel restrictions imposed by these countries, said Senior Minister (security cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Ismail said even though the Foreign Ministry is committed to ensuring the welfare of these Malaysians, the government’s attempt to bring them back also depends on the foreign countries where these Malaysians are stranded.

In the meantime, the defence minister urged them to contact the nearest Malaysian embassy while the government tries to get exemptions from these foreign countries to allow the Malaysians to return home.

“Wisma Putra is always committed to ensuring these Malaysians’ welfare are taken care of. However, efforts to bring our people home depends on the countries where they are stranded.

“This is because there are countries which enforce travel restrictions within these countries, where all outbound flights are cancelled in order to curb the spread of Covid-19 in their countries.

“So not all (Malaysians) we can bring back home. However, the Foreign Ministry is always in touch with these countries so that exemptions can be given to allow our people to come back home,” Ismail said during a Facebook live broadcast of a press conference at Putrajaya this afternoon.

The minister also assured that if the government is given permission by the foreign countries to bring the Malaysians home, the cost of the flight would need to be borne by the individual concerned.

He said the special flight to bring the Malaysians home would be arranged by the Transport Ministry.

[More to follow] - Mkini