Govt okays reopening of higher education institutions

PUTRAJAYA: The government has agreed to allow the reopening of higher education institutions soon, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the special ministerial meeting on the Movement Control Order (MCO) implementation had studied the presentation by the Higher Education Ministry on the reopening of these institutions, as well as the standard operating procedures (SOP) for local and international students’ enrolment.

“The special meeting has agreed to what the ministry has presented and it will announce the SOP details, as well as the dates for the reopening of the higher education institutions,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Higher education institutions have remained shut since the MCO was enforced on March 18. While some varsity students returned to their hometowns prior to that date, more than 50,000 were left stranded in and around campuses as part of strict measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, a decision by the government on April 24 led to a massive operation to send the stranded students home following a third entension of the MCO that ran until May 12.

On a separate issue, Ismail Sabri said the government would review the requirements for entry by Singaporeans into the country.

“While Malaysia imposes Covid-19 screening as a requirement for Singaporeans entering the country, Singapore allows its citizens to travel provided that they furnish fit-to-travel certificate stating that they do not have Covid-19 symptoms.

“We allow Singaporeans to enter the country, particularly those involved in the Malaysia MySecond Home (MM2H) programme. They are no longer required to be quarantined after undergoing