Wisma Putra focuses on COVID-19

Wisma Putra will cooperate with several other countries facing the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure the best steps can be taken to prevent the spread of the disease.

Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, said Malaysia had good relations with countries affected by the COVID-19 including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and China.

"We have good relations with the countries involved with COVID-19, so why don't we share the best ways to deal with this," he said at a press conference in Wisma Putra today.

Commenting on the status of Malaysians in the countries affected by the outbreak, he said Wisma Putra could not make a decision but the issue should be discussed at the Cabinet level.

"The cabinet will decide and we can only present the results of the investigation and best practices by foreign countries," he added.

Hishammuddin, who began his first day in the Foreign Ministry today, said he had received six calls from countries including China, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia, following his appointment to head the ministry.

This was seen as a positive sign for himself and the ministry.

Earlier, Hishammuddin arrived at Wisma Putra and was welcomed by Deputy Minister, Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, and Chief Secretary, Datuk Seri Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, before meeting with all the ministry staff.