COVID-19: No more free accommodation, hotel quarantine to be charged from June 1

There will be no more free accommodation for any individual entering the country starting June 1.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, those sent for quarantine would be charged hotel quarantine payment starting from June 1, including citizens and non-citizens.

He said, 100 per cent of hotel rates would be charged on non-citizens while 50 per cent to Malaysian citizens.

"The National Security Council (MKN) meeting has decided to impose a hotel quarantine charge on all individuals entering the country's gateway beginning June 1, 2020.

"However, except for Malaysian citizens including permanent residents and others, they will be charged a full hotel fee," he said in a daily press conference here today.

Ismail Sabri added that MKN also made a decision to require all individuals who wish to return to the country to sign a letter of consent for payment.

"The Malaysian Embassy will also issue a Letter of Approval to return to Malaysia.

"The Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) will issue orders to all airlines to ensure that the Letter of Approval is a condition for all passengers.

"As I mentioned previously, many non-Malaysian nationals married to Malaysians, and who are quarantined as resident pass holders, had still refused to pay when they want to check out of the hotel.

"That's why we want them to sign a payment consent letter before they return home to the country," he said.

Ismail Sabri said a total of 38,371 Malaysians returning from overseas have been quarantined since April 3, 2020.

"To date, 30,200 individuals have completed the mandatory quarantine period and are allowed to return home.

"Yesterday, 252 Malaysians have returned home and are being under compulsory quarantine," he said.