PUTRAJAYA will hold talks with China on repatriating the 78 Malaysians stuck in Wuhan, the epicentre of a novel coronavirus outbreak that is alarming global health authorities, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

Malaysia is seeking China’s permission to allow those who are not sick to return.

“They will be checked when they reach here. If there is proof that they are ill from the virus or if they were there for a long time, we will quarantine them before they are allowed to return home,” he told reporters in Putrajaya today. 

Malaysia has reported seven positive novel coronavirus cases, all in Chinese nationals.

The three latest cases involve a 4-year-old child being treated in the isolation ward of Sultanah Maliha Hospital, Langkawi; a 52-year-old man in the isolation ward of Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru and a woman.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister’s Department said Chinese nationals from Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, are temporarily barred from entering Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir said some Malaysians are facing food shortages there. 

“The food supply in Wuhan is diminishing (for them). If we are going to send an airplane to bring them back then we will also bring food supply, gloves and masks for the people there.” – January 29, 2020.