This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on April 13, 2020 - April 19, 2020

EARLIER this month, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob went on record to say that it is the responsibility of foreign embassies to look after their citizens who are in Malaysia.

He said the embassies would have to liaise with the respective district disaster management committees and that the Malaysian government would help to facilitate the delivery of aid to their citizens.

“Each foreign embassy must take responsibility to ensure their citizens get the necessary aid,” Ismail was quoted as saying. That would include foreign workers in the country.

A few days ago, he repeated his statement when responding to reports that foreigners staying at two buildings in the heart of Kuala Lumpur — Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion — did not have food as the premises had been placed under a total lockdown.

“I’ve said it clearly before — migrants in our country are the responsibility of their respective embassies and high commissions,” he said.

It is all well and good that each country is responsible for the well-being of its citizens. The governments must take care of their needs in the current situation. But on the same day, Ismail said that Putrajaya wanted Singapore to continue to provide temporary accommodation and food for Malaysians in the island republic in line with a bilateral arrangement that was made last month.

The island republic has enforced a partial lockdown, resulting in many Malaysian workers there wanting to return home. But Putrajaya is now at odds with Singapore over the health screening of the returning Malaysians.

According to Ismail, Singapore, citing WHO recommendations, is only doing swab tests for those who have symptoms of Covid-19. This, he said, is despite Putrajaya asking Singapore to test all Malaysians who want to return after the republic implemented a month-long lockdown from April 7.

The minister said those who have returned have been given clearance letters stating that they were free of Covid-19. Apparently, according to Singapore’s SOP for the pandemic, only basic health screening is conducted before foreign nationals leave the country.

Ismail said the Malaysians have been placed under self-quarantine at home, “but we are not satisfied and are still in talks with Singapore”.

Now, if I may ask, isn’t that a classic case of double standards, considering what he told foreign embassies in Malaysia? While he might be right in saying that each country must take care of its own citizens as it is their responsibility, shouldn’t that also apply to Malaysian citizens outside the country?

The returnees are all Malaysians. With Singapore under lockdown, many of them would not be working as their workplaces have probably stopped operations. Hence, the need for them to come home. It makes perfect sense.

But why should Singapore carry out tests on them? They are, after all, leaving the republic to go back to their own country. Also, Singapore carried out the swab tests in accordance with WHO requirements. It is not that it swung open the floodgates and let the Malaysians pass through without any testing at all.

And asking Singapore to continue to accommodate our workers and provide them with food as well takes the cake. Here, Indian and Bangladeshi workers must fend for themselves and their high commissions must feed them. That is what Ismail said. But when it comes to our workers in Singapore, the republic is compelled to provide accommodation, albeit temporarily, and provide them with meals as well.

Quite a number of Malaysians are cheesed off. Take a look at what some of them are saying online:

•     You want the Singapore government to feed Malaysians in Singapore but you refuse to feed Bangladeshis, Indians, Nepalese in lockdown areas. Hypocrisy.

•     Cuci tangan. Malaysia asked Singapore to feed Malaysians stranded in Singapore. Malaysia asked foreign missions to feed their citizens in KL mansions.

•    Don’t make sense. Do not make things hard for own citizens.

•     Since they are Malaysians, we have to test them.

•     Why should Singapore bother? It is the duty of Malaysia to do the checking.

There are many more such comments, but enough said. The message is loud and clear.

We hope this does not escalate into a diplomatic row. Picking a fight with Singapore has always been a favourite hobby with our politicians to score points, especially during the Barisan Nasional era. Politicians across the Causeway have been known to use Malaysia as the bogeyman as well in the past.

I pray that the talks with Singapore Ismail mentioned will result in a win-win solution. If not for anything else, it is for the good of our workers who want to come home to be with their families for as long as it takes, as they wait for things to take a turn for the better.

Save by subscribing to us for your print and/or digital copy.

P/S: The Edge is also available on Apple's AppStore and Androids' Google Play.