THE Foreign Spouses Support Group (FSSG) applauds the Malaysian authorities and all front-liners for measures and efforts taken during the movement-control order (MCO) period to curb the number of Covid-19 cases.

In view of a prolonged and unspecified period of the MCO, we urge the Immigration Department to adopt short-term measures to keep the families of Malaysians together during these unprecedented times. 

Currently, as only spouses with a long-term social visit pass (LTSVP) are allowed to enter Malaysia during the MCO, this has led to separations in cases where spouses hold a short-term pass, student pass or work permits instead. 

Sarah*, a Malaysian doctor in Johor Baru, is pregnant while her foreign husband is in Singapore as he works there.

She moved to JB so that she could meet her husband frequently. However, Sarah is now going through the pregnancy alone without the support of her husband (as he holds a short-term visa) or her family. 

Amelia* (a Malaysian) is living in Malaysia while her foreign husband and Malaysian child who travelled to Taiwan pre-MCO are stuck there.

Amelia and her husband are medical professionals and the spouse holds a professional visa and has lived in Malaysia since their marriage.

In some cases, it leads to situations where Malaysians are choosing to remain in high-risk countries because they cannot return home as a family. 

Another Malaysian woman currently living in Singapore with her non-Malaysian husband and new-born child will be unable to return to Malaysia as a family as her husband does not hold an LTSVP. Having delivered her child overseas (due to the sudden clampdown of borders), the child may not be guaranteed Malaysian citizenship, given that Malaysian women have to undergo a long-drawn application process to obtain citizenship for their children born overseas.  

FSSG requests the Immigration Department to consider allowing spouses and children/dependents of Malaysians/permanent residents, irrespective of the visas they hold, to unite with their families in Malaysia, while providing valid evidence of the relationship and fulfilling the requirement of a 14-day mandatory quarantine. 

Given that we are in the fasting month of Ramadan, we do hope that families would not have to face the additional uncertainties around bureaucratic hurdles and anxiety of being separated during this pandemic and ask that due consideration be made by the respective authorities in the best interest of the family. – April 29, 2020.

* Names have been changed to maintain anonymity.

* Bina Ramanand is co-founder and lead coordinator of Foreign Spouses Support Group. 

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.