SINGAPORE will fund accommodation for Malaysian workers in the republic for the next two weeks, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The defence minister said the matter was agreed on at a meeting with Singapore today.

Yesterday, he told the press that Malaysia was in talks with its southern neighbour on allowing some 300,000 Malaysian citizens to continue working there during Putrajaya’s two-week movement-control order (MCO) enforcement period.

Malaysia proposed the idea on the condition that Singapore provided accommodation for the affected employees, he had said.

“After the MCO, Singapore will test them for Covid-19 before letting them return to Malaysia,” he said in Putrajaya today.

He added that the countries also agreed to set up two joint committees to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

“The first one is a ministerial committee that will be led by me and the Singapore defence minister, while the second one is a working committee that will be led by Wisma Putra.

“The Johor government will also be included as it concerns them.”

He expressed hope that the public will stop reading and sharing fake news.

“Yesterday, there was fake news about the Defence Ministry, such as there would be a curfew or declaration of emergency. I have done no such thing.

“It was also said that the air force would spray insecticide at midnight. That, too, is not true.

“So, please stop spreading such news as we don’t want another bout of panic-buying.”

Ismail Sabri said 94 Malaysians who are in Italy will return on Monday, while 25 in Iran will fly home two days later.

“They will be tested and quarantined for 14 days.” – March 20, 2020.