Tourists visiting Malaysia to pay for mandatory quarantine: Minister

All tourists who are visiting Malaysia must compulsarily pay for quarantine Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

Travellers entering the country will have to bear the cost of mandatory quarantine and are to sign a letter agreeing to pay before they can make the trip to the country.

''This will take effect from June 1 as Malaysia will continue to impose compulsory quarantine on those who return from abroad to prevent the spread of Covid-19,'' he said at his daily media briefing on Wednesday.

Malaysians would pay half the cost of quarantine services while non-citizens, including spouses and family members of Malaysian citizens, had to bear the full cost.

''The signing of the letter can be done at Malaysian embassies and high commissions. After the agreement is signed, the office will also issue a letter permitting them to return to Malaysia,'' Sabri said.

He said the Immigration Department would play its part to ensure returnees were aware of the new condition set by the government.

“The immigration will be issuing a directive to all airline companies to make it a condition for passengers disembarking in Malaysia to have this letter of undertaking with them,” he said.

Since April 3, the government had enforced compulsory quarantine for all Malaysians returning from abroad.