KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — The National Security Council has approved the Ministry of Higher Education's proposal to reopen universities and colleges, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced today, as the country's Covid-19 outbreak appears to have stabilised.

The move will include allowing foreign students to return, Ismail Sabri said.

The ministry has already prepared the accompanying standard operating procedures that will be announced soon, he added.

"The schedule (for reopening) and detailed SOP will be announced by the KPT minister,” Ismail told the council’s daily Covid-19 press briefing in Putrajaya earlier this evening.

The announcement comes as the government plans to reopen schools soon.

Senior Minister in charge of education Datuk Radzi Jidin is scheduled to reveal details of the plan at 4pm today.

Pre-schools have already resumed classes today as the  coronavirus outbreak has shown signs of abating, prompting the council to allow nearly all economic and social sectors to reopen.

The number of new cases has stayed in single digits for nearly two weeks, and no deaths reported within the same period.