Foreign spouses: Who pays their quarantine costs?

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Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah speaking during the special media conference at the Baitul Makmur II Building here on Thursday (Nov 5). Photo: Ummi Munirah

KUCHING: Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah declined to comment on foreign spouses of Sarawakians who wish to reunite with their partners in the state but have been unable to do so due to the high cost of quarantine.

She said it would be best if the issue was brought to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).

“I cannot speak on the issue. It should be directed to the SDMC chairman,” she told reporters after handing over grants to non-governmental organisations here at Sri Satok PDK today.

“Tomorrow (Nov 22), I think we are going to have a press conference (on Covid-19 updates). Because we need to announce whether the conditional movement control order (CMCO) will be extended or not.

“Maybe during that time, you (reporters) can ask on that issue,” she said.

Kuching district was placed under CMCO for 14 days, from Nov 9 to 22 in view of the increasing Covid-19 cases.

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Meanwhile, Malay Mail reported that foreign spouses of Sarawakians were struggling to reunite with their partners in the state due to high quarantine costs.

The report also said some were facing mental distress over their prolonged separation from their spouses.

Foreign Spouses Support Group (FSSG) said the foreign spouses had to pay as much as RM5,500 for quarantine alone.

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