Quarantine hotel stay capped at RM150 per day, no special treatment

CORONAVIRUS | The government will only fork out RM150 per day for those undergoing quarantine at 45 hotels in the country designated as quarantine centres, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

At a press conference today, Ismail said the government was aware that there were claims of different treatment for those undergoing quarantine but these were not true.

He said the government had contracted for hotels that where rated three-stars and above but the maximum amount to be reimbursed to the hotel was RM150 a day.

"If they want better accommodation (in those hotels), they have to pay out of their own pockets," said Ismail.

Ismail said foreign diplomats, for example, were among those who were requesting better accommodation and their embassies would have to foot the bills for room upgrades.

Putrajaya has mandated that all Malaysians returning from abroad from April 3 onwards must undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Following this, some Malaysians have reported that the quality of quarantine centres ranged from community halls for vagrants, dilapidated civil service housing quarters and posh hotels.

Ismail said there was no preferential treatment in the choice of quarantine accommodations. They who want better accommodations would have to pay for them themselves.

He also stressed that all quarantine centres followed the same rules - those under quarantine cannot leave their rooms, receive visitors or choose a non-designated hotel.

Ismail said the government thanked the participating hotels because RM150 for board and lodging was a very low rate.

As of yesterday, there were 122 quarantine centres throughout the country housing about 7,500 individuals. - Mkini