20 Malaysians stranded in Betong, Thailand, allowed to return home

CORONAVIRUS | Twenty Malaysians stranded in Betong, Thailand, following the closure of the Thai border on March 23, have been allowed to return home in phases since March 30, through the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex in Bukit Berapit, Pengkalan Hulu, Perak.

Pengkalan Hulu district police chief DSP Zulkepli Ibrahim said all the Malaysians, aged between seven and 65 years, were allowed to return on March 30, April 3, 9 and today.

He said the Malaysian Consul General in Songkhla, Muhammad Ridzuan Abu Yazid, had allowed the return of the Malaysians who had been on holiday and also visited relatives in the southern Thai town.

“All of them who returned to Malaysia through the Bukit Berapit, Pengkalan Hulu ICQS Complex-Betong entry point were required by the Pengkalan Hulu District Health Office to undergo initial health screening and provide information on their travel history in Thailand.

“The police have worked with the District Health Office to ensure that all Health Ministry procedures have been complied with,” he told Bernama when contacted in Ipoh today.

Zulkepli said all 20 individuals had been sent to the quarantine centres at Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu Sultan Azlan Shah in Ulu Kinta, Ipoh, and Institut Latihan Statistik Malaysia in Sungkai to undergo a 14-day quarantine before being allowed to return home.

“All of them must undergo standard procedures such as health screening and a 14-day quarantine to ensure they are free of COVID-19,” he said.

- Bernama

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