CHINESE nationals currently in the country will not have their visa extended, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. 

“No they can’t extend their visa. We will continue to monitor the situation here,” she said after a briefing at the Health Ministry in Putrajaya today. 

This means these tourists will have to leave Malaysia at the expiry of their visa.

Wan Azizah also said as of 2pm today, there are seven confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Malaysia, all involving Chinese nationals. 

“They have tested patients under investigation, 74 of which are negative for the virus, while eight are still pending their results.”

On certain quarters who want the government to widen visa suspension to all visitors from China, she said the move will not make much difference as the number has dwindled.

“At the moment, not many Chinese travellers are coming into the country. We also have to look in Visit Malaysia 2020,” she said.

Last week Putrajaya decided to temporarily ban the arrival of China visitors from Hubei province, including Wuhan – the epicentre of the virus outbreak.

All entry mechanisms including visa-free entry, visa on arrival, e-visa and manual visas for these Chinese nationals have been suspended with immediate effect. – January 29, 2020.