FOREIGNERS entering Malaysia must pay their quarantine charges and Covid-19 testing fee upon arrival at the airport, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today. 

He said the decision to require upfront payment was made at a special ministerial meeting on Covid-19 following several cases in which foreigners refused to pay after completing their quarantine at hotels and government centres. They also refused to pay for their Covid-19 tests.

“Before they clear Immigration, they must make payment for their quarantine at a hotel or at public training centres.

“If they refuse, we will not allow them to enter. They can remain in the airport till whenever,” the defence minister told a press conference today.

The mandatory 14-day quarantine costs about RM4,700 per person, with the government subsiding a little more than half for Malaysians.

Ismail Sabri, who is also National Security Council spokesman, said the government has yet to decide when Malaysia will reopen its borders to tourists.

Asked if Malaysia will follow Thailand in setting a date for reopening its borders to international travel, he said there are still issues to be considered.

Among them is the number of domestic Covid-19 cases, as well as infections imported from countries with a high number of cases.

“The United States has about four million cases; Brazil more than two million and India, also around two million cases. These are considered high-risk countries. 

“We have to look at the country and the number of cases they have. We will not allow them to enter if they are from high-risk countries.” – August 13, 2020.