PUTRAJAYA: The government says it will only subsidies hotel charges for quarantine purposes for up to RM150 a room, following criticism that it is practising double standard by placing some Covid-19 suspects in 5-star hotels.
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Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the 45 hotels listed yesterday included 3-star hotels costing about RM150 a day.
“If there are individuals who want to stay in 4- or 5- star hotels, they can, but with the condition that they pay their own,” he told reporters today.
But he said people cannot choose any hotel they want.
“There is SOP to follow. They cannot leave the room or visit anyone,” he said.
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He said the authorities listed the hotels to make it easier to monitor them.
“Otherwise, imagine five people in Petaling Jaya and another five in another hotel. It would be difficult to monitor,” he said.
He said some Malaysians including those returning from abroad were willing to pay their own while being quarantined, as required during the movement control order (MCO) period.
The government has listed 554 centres nationwide to place 40,000 Malaysians under quarantine if the need arises. – FMT