MALAYSIAN students abroad are advised to return only when the Covid-19 outbreak is over, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“My advice is, if you can stay there, it’s better to remain in the country you’re in until the situation returns to normal,” he said in a live daily telecast from Putrajaya on Covid-19 security-related matters.

Given the cancellation of flights in numerous countries, he said, citizens stranded overseas are advised to contact the Malaysian embassy.

Should a foreign government allow Malaysian students to leave, a special flight may be arranged by the Transport Ministry, he said.

“The transport costs, however, must be borne by the students,” he said, adding that some have returned via special flights.

For students at local institutions of higher learning, Ismail Sabri, who holds the defence portfolio, reiterated that they are to remain on campus during the movement-control order (MCO) period.

“There have been appeals to allow students to return home. However, after hearing feedback from the Health Ministry and police, we decided that on-campus students must remain at their universities.”

There are some 80,000 students stuck on campus, and allowing them to make the journey to their hometowns poses the risk of new coronavirus clusters emerging, he said.

“Their welfare will be looked after by the government. This decision is based on efforts to break the chain of infections.

“We don’t want mass movements, which would certainly make it harder for police to monitor the situation, and perhaps, cause new clusters of Covid-19 infection.

“I hope all students understand that this decision is to protect not only their health and safety, but also that of their families and communities at home.”

The MCO, which has twice been extended since it came into force on March 18, is due to end on April 28, almost a week after the fasting month of Ramadan begins on April 23.

A coalition of student groups has urged the government to allow those stuck on campus to return to their home states in stages, in view of the extended restriction order. – April 13, 2020.