KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — The government will help overseas students who have completed their studies but cannot return home by subsiding their board and lodging expenses.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government has received reports from parents about their children who have completed their studies but are now stranded abroad. They face the twin problems of international travel restrictions and being unable to pay for accommodation and food.

“The government, through their sponsors like MARA, the Public Service Department, Higher Education Ministry and Petronas have agreed to help out the graduates in terms of accommodation and food,” he said during his press conference today.

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“So, parents don’t need to worry if they cannot afford to help their children who are away from home. These institutions will provide for them,” he said.

On another question about some 12,000 students in Egpyt who are expected to be flown back by a private agent, Ismail Sabri said that they welcomed any effort by any party public or private to help as long as they inform the government beforehand.

“They need to work with us. Inform the Nasional Security Council, Immigration for instance. We don’t want any problems when they arrive at the airport.

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“So please tell the NSC so that they can assist,” he said, adding that the students will have to undergo compulsory 14-day quarantine at the government-designated quarantine centres.

“But we still maintain our advice for students abroad to stay put. Some countries have travel restrictions, but in the case of Egypt, there shouldn’t be a problem, we have evacuated Malaysians from there via Brunei before. They shouldn’t have issues.

“But other countries like US and UK, there might be some restrictions and the students need to obey those immigration laws. Our advice is to stay put,” he said.