Ismail Sabri: Returning M’sians, foreigners entering country to bear Covid-19 screening cost starting today

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Returning Malaysians and foreigners entering the country will have to bear the Covid-19 screening cost upon their entry, effective today. – Bernama file photo

KUCHING: Returning Malaysians and foreigners entering the country will have to bear the Covid-19 screening cost upon their entry, effective today, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

However, he said a special Cabinet meeting this morning had decided that such cost will be exempted for three categories namely physically challenged individuals (OKU), government officers who return to Malaysia on official assignments and students who return to the country for the first time.

“Starting today, June 29, Malaysians and foreigners who return to Malaysia must undertake the cost of Covid-19 screening upon their entry.

“We have decided during the special Cabinet meeting that OKU who hold the OKU card issued by the Welfare Department (JKM) and government officers who return to the country on official assignments are exempted from the charge.

“Students who return to the country for the first time and they must prove that it’s their first are also to be exempted from the Covid-19 screening cost,” he told the daily update press conference in Putrajaya today.

Ismail Sabri noted that some individuals might have already paid for the screening cost prior to the special cabinet decision this morning.

He said the meeting had also decided that those who were eligible for the exemption but had already paid for the cost could claim the fee later.

“Only those three categories can claim the charge paid to MoH (Ministry of Health). This is because we might not have managed to inform the relevant agencies on time following the cabinet decision this morning,” he added.