KUALA LUMPUR: Expatriates in Malaysia will be allowed to leave the country for an emergency and for medical purposes, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said he government would also not prevent any foreign national who wished to leave Malaysia and return to their home countries.
However, the green light for these people would only be allowed for a one-way journey.
"Foreigners without travel documents need to obtain such documents from their respective embassies in the country," he said in a statement today.
Ismail Sabri said these measures were agreed to by the Special Ministerial Committee on the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
The committee, he said, will not impose any restriction on foreign crew working for local fishing vessels in order to ensure sufficient supply of marine product to meet domestic consumption.
"The foreigners, however, must obtain prior approval from their respective country's authorities (if they wished to work for local fishing vessel in Malaysia).
"They also need to apply for temporary foreign worker permit (PLKS) from the Immigration Department, undergo Covid-19 screening and serve the 14-day compulsory quarantine in order to work for fishing vessels in Malaysia.
"Employers must also prepare and provide accommodation for their respective foreign fishing crew," he said.
The government, he said, would not hesitate to take severe action against quarters entering the country illegally.
"Security agencies would continue to beef-up enforcement at all the country's border including areas identified as rat lanes (illegal routes)," he said.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri who is the Senior Defence Minister, said police have arrested seven undocumented migrants from 68 road blocks conducted nationwide under Ops Benteng.
He said that the Health Ministry had conducted Covid-19 screening on 6,155 people who had entered the country via the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) since June 10 until Friday (June 26).
Of the total, 6,121 were negative of the virus and were undergoing the compulsory 14-day quarantine at their respective homes.
"A total of 34 of them who tested positive for Covid-19 have since been admitted to hospitals for treatment," he said.
On a related matter, Ismail Sabri said 425 Malaysians from the Philippines, Nepal, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Qatar, Pakistan and Brunei returned home via KLIA and klia2 on Friday.
"A total of 422 of them were observing the mandatory 14-day home quarantine while three others were sent to the nearest hospital," he said.
He added 140 people had entered Malaysia through the country's border in Johor, and all were placed under home quarantine.
On checks by Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB), Ismail Sabri it showed that a total of 2,475 construction sites nationwide had complied with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the government.
A total of 472 construction sites, he said, were slapped with a warning following non-compliance with the SOPs, he said.
"The enforcement unit with the CIDB had also instructed 19 construction sites to immediately cease operations following non-compliance with the SOPs," he said.
Ismail Sabri also said 53 people were arrested for failing to adhere with the Recovery MCO on June 26.
Of the total, eight were remanded while the remaining individuals were slapped with compounds.
"Among the offences violating RMCO includes those related to karaoke or family entertainment activities, pubs and night clubs; reflexology and masseurs; as well as activities that involved a large number of people that made it difficult to observe social distancing practice," he said.