MALAYSIANS returning from abroad who fail to pay the costs of their mandatory 14-day quarantine will be fined and face legal action, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the bill must be settled within the 14 days of their stay in a hotel or a government facility.

“If they fail to do so, they will be fined RM1,000 and face court action,” he said in a statement today.

The charges are RM150 per day for 14 days.

Ismail said the charges were the same whether one was lodged at a quarantine centre, hotel or public training institute (ILA).

“For individuals who refuse to sign the LoU (payment agreement), they will be sent to the ILA.

“As the ILA is government-owned, these individuals will receive boarding there without need of an advance payment or a deposit.

From July 24 to August 3, a total of 5,281 people returned to the country via the airports.

“They were housed in 21 hotels and five ILA in Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Sarawak,  Selangor, Perak and Johor. 

“Of that number, 13 individuals were sent to the hospital for treatment.”

He said apart from OKU cardholders registered with the Social Welfare Department, only students from B40 families were eligible for exemption from payment of quarantine charges.

Police have taken action against 80 people for failure to comply with the home quarantine order.

Yesterday, police checked up on 2,078 individuals in home quarantine. 

He said police and health officers would continue to keep a close check on them to ensure compliance. – August 4, 2020.