Arrangements being made to send home stranded Ukrainians

By R.Ravichandran

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26  -- Arrangements are being made to send back the remaining 38 Ukrainians stranded in Malaysia.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Malaysia, in a statement to Bernama, said that most of its citizens stranded in Malaysia due to the travel restrictions are tourists.

“Special hubs were organised by the Government of Ukraine for those citizens who couldn’t get home before the restrictions were imposed by various countries. The government in collaboration with the national air carriers also organises charter flights to airlift Ukrainians from the hubs," the embassy said in a reply to Bernama on the fate of stranded Ukrainians in Malaysia.

The embassy said that since the period of legal stay in Malaysia for Ukrainian tourists is 30 days, their main concern is the possibility of social pass’ extension if they aren’t able to leave the country due to the measures put in place by the Malaysian government.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced today that the Movement Control Order (MCO) from March 18-March 31, proclaimed by the government earlier, has been extended to April 14.

The Ukraine embassy said it welcomes the decision of Malaysian authorities not to impose any fine in those cases during the MCO.

"The same approach is being exercised by Ukraine," it said.

-- BERNAMA