Covid 19 Over 100 Malaysians Stranded In India After Flights Cancelled

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CORONAVIRUS | More than 60 Malaysians, who have been stuck in Tamil Nadu since March 13, rushed the Tiruchirappalli airport following unhappiness with the actions of airport authorities in the state capital, Chennai
In a viral video clip sighted by Malaysiakini, the group held a sitting protest at the entrance to the terminal upon the cancellation of their flight home in light of the Covid-19 outbreak
Malaysia will begin enforcing a nationwide partial shutdown or the movement control order from today until March 31 with the aim of slowing the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed two persons in the country
“Ten of us were supposed to leave tomorrow (March 18), but they have cancelled (the flight) now,” said one individual in the video recording
An airport officer could be heard responding to the individual that he was unaware of the cancellation but claimed that the decision was made by the Malaysian government
The officer also requested the disgruntled passengers appeal to the Malaysian consulate-general in Chennai while promising to organise a meeting with the relevant party
Even so, the protestor questioned: “Where will we stay till then? We have no money, nothing. The hotels here are not giving us rooms to stay.”When contacted last night, a Malaysian in Chennai confirmed his flight to Kuala Lumpur early on Thursday morning was cancelled
The latter, who only wished to be known as Gunalan, said he was informed by the airlines that rescheduling of the flights will only be known after March 31
“There are 30 to 40 of us stranded here (in Chennai). And we find there are other Malaysians stranded in Thiruchirapalli and New Delhi
“There is no concrete reason to cancel the flights. Some say it is due to the movement control order of the Malaysian government. Others say the cancellations were due to the deaths of the two Malaysians today,” Gunalan told Malaysiakini
Report: Flights approved for Indians stranded in KLMalaysia yesterday recorded its first deaths from coronavirus, one a 60-year-old pastor in Kuching and the other a 34-year-old attendee of the controversial religious gathering at a mosque in Seri Petaling in Kuala Lumpur
Meanwhile, the country also saw 120 new cases as at yesterday, bringing the total number of cases to 673. Apart from the two deaths, 12 patients of the 673 cases are in intensive care units while 49 have recovered and been discharged
According to Gunalan, many Malaysians have been stranded at the Chennai airport for over three days and are running out of money
“The situation is complicated here
“Tomorrow, we will go to the Malaysian consulate to get help,” he added
Meanwhile, India’s Economic Times reported that the number of Indians stranded in Kuala Lumpur airports to be over 200
It reported that the Indian government has approved AirAsia flights for Delhi and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh for those stranded, mostly students
India has to date recorded a total of 120 coronavirus cases
As part of Malaysia’s movement control order, foreigners are not allowed into the country while Malaysians returning from abroad must undergo 14-day self-quarantine. - Mkini

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