RANTAU PANJANG: Three Malaysian siblings, stranded in Thailand since March following the closure of the Malaysia-Thailand border due to the Covid-19 pandemic, returned home today.
Muhammad Adam Danel Mohd Rozi, 11, Muhammad Arash Raihan, 7, and Muhammad Muhaimin Putra, 3, arrived at the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine (ICQ) Complex here about 2pm.
Accompanied by their Thai mother, Sakina Museh, 38, the children were later sent to the Kelantan Education Technology Resources Sector Quarantine Centre in Pengkalan Chepa.
Speaking to reporters later, Sakina said she was glad that she and the children have finally returned to Malaysia.
"I cannot describe how happy we are to be back in Malaysia, especially my children. (The elder) two can't wait to start their schooling at SK Taman Bukit Segar in Cheras, Selangor," she said.
Sakina said she plans to work soon in Cheras to support her family.
She and her Malaysian children had been stranded in Thailand for nine months since the border was closed in March.
They had gone to Thailand to renew Sakina's visa in Yala and could not remain there as she was unable to bear the cost of quarantine and Covid-19 tests in the kingdom.
She had to take her children along with her as there was no one to take care of them in Kelantan.
Sakina's husband Mohd Rozi Ab Rahman died of cancer in September.
The four returned to Malaysia with the help of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla and the Thai government.
Meanwhile all four would be required to undergo a 10-day quarantine for Covid-19 until Dec 30.
Kelantan state Quarantine Centre coordinator Captain Muhammad Shafie Rosslee said they would observe the quarantine at the State Education Technology Resource Sector Quarantine Centre in Pengkalan Chepa.
Public Health Medical Expert of the Kota Baru Health Office Dr Pathman Arumugam said the four would undergo swab tests on the second and eighth day of their quarantine.