Malaysia Removes Some Costs Of COVID-19 For Foreigners

JAKARTA - The Malaysian government has removed the cost of operating the COVID-19 quarantine for foreign nationals (foreigners) entering the international arrival gate at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in the amount of RM2,600 (Rp8.9 million) which has been in effect since September 24, 2020.

"The COVID-19 fee for foreigners is canceled when the standard package fee for private quarantine stations is still valid as of November 15, 2021," said Malaysian Defense Minister Hishamuddin Hussein in a statement in Putrajaya, reported by Antara, Sunday, November 7.

Hishamuddin said the transfer of management of hotel quarantine stations to private quarantine stations was based on the operating and monitoring guidelines for private quarantine stations by the Malaysian Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).

He also mentioned the cost of quarantine for seven groups of Malaysian citizens excluded from dependents by the government, but did not elaborate further.

"The re-examination of the COVID-19 test will be coordinated by the Malaysian Ministry of Health through the relevant provincial or regional Health Office," he said.

He said the implementation of this private quarantine station began seven days after being approved by the Special Committee for the Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic on November 5, 2021.

"The government calls for all the concessions given by the people to be fully utilized by the people with full discipline and a sense of responsibility," he said.

Previously, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that all foreigners arriving at all international entrances would need to pay the full cost of quarantine starting September 24, 2020.

Ismail said they need to pay the full cost without subsidies of RM4,700, which consists of fixed operating costs (RM2,600) and lodging costs (RM2,100).