PUTRAJAYA will distribute 10 million surgical masks to those who need it, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

“We will distribute it free to Malaysians who need it,” he said in Putrajaya today.

He said the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) was instructed to speed up the purchase from China.

He said the masks would cost RM1.18 each.

On Saturday, Works Minister Fadillah Yusof announced that 10 million masks will be brought in from China in stages to fill shortages in the country.

He said the supply of mask is part of the agreement between Malaysia and China.

The Transport Ministry is in the process of bringing in the item, he added.

Muhyiddin was responding to a question on whether the government will monitor the price of locally produced surgical masks, which currently cost around RM2 each.

“The relevant ministries have already spoken to the manufacturers to ask them to lower their price to something more reasonable. We hope the factories will agree to our request,” said Muhyiddin.

He said there were four to five  local manufactures who could make the masks, with a production capacity of two to three million per month.

“But they have problems getting the raw materials to make the masks as the materials come from overseas.

“As such, we have decided to import 10 million pieces from China,” he added.

Meanwhile, there is no free Covid-19 testing for foreign workers and foreigners.

“If they go to the general hospitals, there’s still a cost although it is subsidised.”

“As such, they would have to pay for it,” he added.

“But we hope that employers will advise them accordingly to get tested,” said Muhyiddin.

The prime minister was responding to a question on whether there was free testing for foreign workers. 

On the RM500 to RM700 charged by private hospitals for Covid-19 testing, Muhyiddin said it was reasonable.

“At public hospitals, it’s around RM700 each, too. But we hope that private hospitals will not over charge as it should do its social responsibility in this time of emergency.” – March 23, 2020.