COVID-19 screening fee exemption for three categories

The government has agreed to exclude COVID-19 screening fees in three categories of Malaysians returning from abroad.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said they are People With Disabilities (PWD) and government officials returning from overseas on official duty and Malaysian students returning from overseas for the first time.

However, those who are not on the list of the three categories will have to pay their own COVID-19 screening costs starting today (Monday).

"Starting today, Malaysians and foreigners returning to Malaysia will have to bear the cost of the COVID-19 screening test at the country’s entrance. However, the Special Ministerial Meeting on implementation this morning has decided to grant exemption to three categories.

"The first is People With Disabilities (PWD) who holds a PWD card issued by the Department of Social Welfare (JKM). Secondly, government officials returning from overseas on official duty. Third, students returning from overseas for the first time and need to provide proof of study," he said at a media conference on the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) here on Monday.

However, noting the possibility of any of these three categories having just made payments, Ismail Sabri said the Special Ministerial Meeting had agreed that the payment could be reclaimed.

"Since the decision was made only this morning, there were probably those from the three categories who have paid for the screening. So, the meeting agreed to allow them to reclaim their fees from the Ministry of Health (MOH)," he said.