18 September 2020
Foreign students can return to Malaysia to resume their studies provided that they apply beforehand and their universities are open.
The Malaysian immigration department will also consider new applications for student visa for those enrolling in universities that are open and have organised classes for students.
On another issue, immigration will now allow Malaysians who are long-term pass holders of another country, who had returned during the movement control order period, to leave without submitting an application.
Explaining further, Immigration Director General Khairul Dzaimee Daud said, aside from students having to write in, universities need to inform the department that they have classes running.
“A list of their foreign students who want to return to Malaysia must be submitted so that we can cross-check with the applications submitted by the students,” he said.
Khairul Dzaimee said, while the department would look through new applications for student visa, approval would not be given to prospective students from one of the 23 countries whose citizens had been prohibited from entering Malaysia.
“Students who are from the said countries but are currently stuck abroad can apply to return,” he said.
Malaysia has imposed a ban on citizens of 23 countries due to their high number of Covid-19 cases.
They are the United States, Brazil, India, Russia, Peru, Colombia, South Africa, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iran, Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
Also, on the list are Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Iraq, the Philippines and Indonesia.
On Malaysians with long-term passes of another country, Khairul Dzaimee said earlier, the condition was that they need to apply before leaving to avoid them from going in and out of the country frequently as the government was bearing the quarantine cost in full.
“However, now if they are to return again, they will have to pay the cost of quarantine,” he said.
Last week, the immigration department updated its list of procedures for Malaysians leaving and entering the country.
Among others, the rules state that Malaysians who hold permanent resident pass and work permit abroad and had returned during MCO period would have to apply to the Immigration Department before leaving.
On the confusion at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Khairul Dzaimee explained that the Malaysians who were scheduled to leave fell under the category where immigration approval was necessary.
“When the officers checked, these people did not have the department’s approval which was necessary in order for them to leave the country,” he said.
“That was sorted out and we will now allow those who hold permanent resident and work passes to leave,” he said.
On September 12, a group of Malaysians scheduled to leave for abroad was barred from leaving the country by Immigration officers at KLIA.
Source: thedailystar.net
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