Putrajaya waives quarantine for Malaysian workers in Singapore, but with conditions

CORONAVIRUS | Putrajaya has decided to waive the 14-day quarantine rule for Malaysians working in Singapore who plan to re-enter the country.

However, to secure the waiver, the returning Malaysian workers must first undergo a swab test in Singapore to prove they are negative for Covid-19.

"Following the special ministerial committee meeting on April 3, it is hereby informed that Malaysians working in Singapore and wish to return to Malaysia during the movement control order (MCO) period are required to get a swab test in Singapore and present a letter or certificate to confirm he or she is free of Covid-19 at the entry point before being allowed to enter.

"They will not need to be quarantined if they are confirmed to be negative," said Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud in a letter addressed to the Johor Immigration Department sighted by Malaysiakini.letter is authentic.

Under a tightened MCO, all Malaysians returning from abroad will be brought to quarantine centres for two-week isolation.

The rule came into force yesterday but the rule was eased for those returning from Singapore.

In an effort to combat the coronavirus, the country has gone into a partial lockdown since March 18.

The MCO was supposed to end on March 31 but was extended until April 14.

Under the MCO, all non-essential businesses and services must close while people are only allowed to leave their homes for pressing reasons such as to restock food supply.

As of noon yesterday, Malaysia recorded 3,333 confirmed Covid-19 cases with 53 deaths. 827 people have since recovered.

Globally, almost 1.1 million confirmed cases have been recorded with almost 59,193 deaths. 228,938 people have recovered. - Mkini