After escape attempt, undocumented migrants to be moved to MAEPS

CORONAVIRUS | Twenty-six undocumented migrants will be relocated from the Sungai Buloh Hospital to the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) [above] for Covid-19 treatment.

This measure was taken following an attempted escape by a Bangladeshi national, 26, while he was being treated at the hospital.

Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the person was in handcuffs and the authorities were investigating the escape attempt.

"We have decided that because of security reasons, the 26 undocumented migrants will be transferred to MAEPS.

"Only locals and legal foreign workers will be placed in Sungai Buloh [...] we will have adequate security at MAEPS and still provide good treatment," he said.

He said this was a matter of concern for the Health Ministry which was still mulling using other hospitals to treat undocumented migrants.

Malaysia's strategy in combating Covid-19 has shifted towards testing foreigners, which make up a large part of Malaysia's workforce.

According to the Health Ministry, 34,302 foreigners have already been tested of which 1,948 (5.7 percent) tested positive. Four have died.

Another key part of Malaysia's testing strategy focussed on elderly care centres.

The Health Ministry said 11,049 old folks' homes residents and staff have been tested of which 26 returned positive.

However, of this figure, only four showed symptoms while 22 were asymptomatic.

Keep up with the latest information on the outbreak in the country with Malaysiakini's free Covid-19 tracker.

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