KUALA LUMPUR:Issues related to the reduction of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for Malaysians entering from Singapore can only be determined by the Health Ministry  (MOH), said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Taking note of some suggestions to reduce the quarantine period, he said the issue would be referred to the MOH to consider the number of mandatory quarantine days for Malaysians from Singapore.

“A 10-day or seven-day quarantine decision can only be made by the MOH. If I make announcements on health matters, it is based on the MOH’s decision,” he said at a press conference on the development of the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) here today.

In a similar development, Ismail Sabri said Singaporeans who have Malaysian families were allowed to return home but need to apply for MyTravelPass on the official website of the Malaysian Immigration Department www.imi.gov.my.

He said Singapore was not on the entry ban list of 23 countries with high COVID-19 infection cases.

Malaysians in Singapore who are facing financial constraints to undergo compulsory swab tests and mandatory quarantine, can apply to MOH to be exempted from paying the charges, he said.

“If there are those who cannot afford the quarantine cost, they can apply. Those who are in the B40 group as well as people with disabilities can apply for a fee waiver with the MOH,” he said.

In another development, Ismail Sabri denied allegations that Melaka had been placed under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) as has gone viral via WhatsApp since yesterday.

He said so far no such announcement had been made and confirmed it as fake news.

"I hold press conferences every day and anyone watching (the press conferences), will know I never even mentioned Melaka or declared it had been placed under CMCO.

“In fact, Melaka is still a yellow zone, with only a dozen cases and to be classified a red zone it needs more than 40 cases,” he said.

He said so far there were only two spokespersons representing the government in providing the latest developments regarding the development of COVID-19 every day, namely himself and Health director- general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

"He said he would detail non-health issues such as Op Benteng and compliance operations, while Dr Noor Hisham would provide information on health-related cases including the number of COVID-19 cases and quarantine matters.

“If I did not announce and the Health Ministry did not declare it means it is fake news, so do not believe it and do not viral this message,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said during the CMCO period, only restaurants with licence that is specifically for selling food were allowed to operate while pubs and bars are were not allowed.

Pubs and bars are more to provide liquor to customers and is categorised as a prohibited activity during CMCO.

“Since CMCO, pubs and bars have not been allowed to operate and this has continued until now. Local authorities have been instructed to take action against pubs and entertainment centres if they persist in continuing operations.

“Their (pub and nightclub operators) operating licences can be revoked if they continue to be stubborn,” he said.

-- BERNAMA