JOHOR BARU: Johor has denied allegations that it did not take any action to isolate Malaysians returning from Singapore over Covid-19 fears.
Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said reports by several online portals quoting opposition leaders on the matter was not only inaccurate but also caused unnecessary fear among the people.
“For your information, from April 3 to April 7, an average of 1,000 Malaysians returned daily from Singapore after the republic announced that it would implement lockdown beginning Tuesday.
“Anyone who enters the country through its entry points via the Johor Causeway, Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah will undergo a body temperature check and if there are symptoms, they will be isolated and referred to a hospital.
“For Malaysian workers in Singapore who had taken swab test in the republic and whose outcome shows that they are negative for Covid-19, are allowed to return home and undergo a 14-day self-quarantine in their respective residences with scheduled checks conducted by Health personnel.
“Those who do not have valid documentary proof showing their negative test outcome are allowed to return to Malaysia but will be placed in a designated quarantine centre, like other Malaysians who return from abroad," he said in a statement here today.
He was commenting on accusations that the state government had not taken any precautionary measures in isolating returning Malaysians from Singapore, which in turn would lead to the Johor people being exposed to Covid-19 infection.
Hasni who is also the Benut State Assemblyman, said the state would also re-implement health checks on those isolated at designated quarantine centres to ensure Malaysians returning from Singapore were not persons under investigation or were suffering from any other chronic disease.
He said those suffering from chronic diseases would not only be isolated but also admitted to hospital for treatment.
"Daily checks will also be conducted at all quarantine centres to ensure that there are no Covid-19 symptoms for any of the people there and that necessary tests were conducted for the purpose," he said.
Hasni said the state government would also look into allegations which had gone viral on the social media on the conditions of two state quarantine centres which were said to be in unsatisfactory condition.
“For your information, a total 197 of our citizens quarantined at the two centres have been transferred in stages to hotels which have been gazetted by the government as quarantine centres.
“The existing quarantine centre also takes into account the breadth of the room to meet the demands of social distancing that is required.
"Each resident was also briefed on the responsibility of ensuring that they comply with the social distancing instructions," he said.