BANGKOK (April 20): Thailand is making necessary preparations, including stringent Covid-19 screening at its border entry points, as the kingdom prepares for its nationals who are stranded in Malaysia to return home.
At the same time, enforcement authorities have stepped up patrols at the Thailand-Malaysia border to prevent illegal crossings, and returnees from skipping mandatory quarantine.
This is following the announcement by Malaysia’s Immigration Department that all foreigners with expired social visit passes would need to leave the country on or before April 21, to avoid being penalised.
Thailand s Consul-General in Kota Bharu, Mongkol Sinsomboon, said Thais are allowed to enter the kingdom via four entry points, namely Sg Kolok (Narathiwat), Betong (Yala), Sadao (Songkhla) and Wang Prachan (Satun).
Thailand making all necessary preparations for Thais returning from Malaysia thestar.com.my - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thestar.com.my Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Covid in Malaysia drives thousands of Thais home
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published : 7 Mar 2021 at 05:00
7 People wearing protective masks wait to cross a street in Kuala Lumpur amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in Malaysia on Jan 29, 2021. (Reuters photo)
About 19,000 Thai workers in Malaysia have returned home due to the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Malaysian ringgit, while 30,000 others have stayed on, according to Mongkol Sinsomboon, the Thai Consul-General to Kota Bharu.
Figures show 38,487 Thai workers work legally in Malaysia with 30,000 others working illegally in the neighbouring country, said Mr Mongkol.
The two groups of Thai migrant workers have sent home about 400 million baht a month, he said.