More than 26,000 Malaysians stranded abroad during the COVID-19 outbreak have been brought home, with only about 56 people still looking for the way back, the parliament was told today.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kamarudin Jaafar revelead this when answering a question by a DAP lawmaker in Dewan Negara.

According to him, a total of 26,572 Malaysians stranded abroad were brought home via 528 flights from 94 countries.

"This number includes 20 members of the Malaysian tabligh congregation who were detained and taken to court in India, and they were brought home three days ago.

"Currently, only 56 people are reported to still be stranded abroad while waiting for airports to reopen and commercial flights to resume operations," Kamaruddin said, reported Bernama.

He added that an estimated 457,000 Malaysians are currently abroad, and urged them to register with the nearest Malaysian representative office and obtain the required visa, to allow the government to extend any needed assistance.

Malaysia's borders are still closed, except for business purposes, investment and education - with strict compliance to strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin recently said that the government will not rush into reopening the country's borders, to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Other countries that have hastily opened their borders have faced resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases, he pointed out.

Malaysia so far has 10,219 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 130 deaths.

The global infection and death tally from the disease has surpassed 31.2 million, and 965,000, respectively.


Source: Bernama
Photo source: Astro Awani