He said Sabah residents who left to perform the umrah or for other overseas trips before Dec 28 are allowed to continue their return trip to the state after returning to Malaysia, subject to a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test.

“The Sabah government will provide the services of registered doctors for the Covid-19 tests at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for free to Sabah residents,” he said in a statement today.

Hajiji said accommodation would be provided for those who tested positive for Covid-19 and were required to undergo quarantine in the federal capital, while assistance would be given through Yayasan Kebajikan Sabah and coordinated by the Sabah state liaison office in Kuala Lumpur.

For those who left after Dec 28, he said the quarantine costs including accommodation should be borne by the pilgrims or travel agencies which offered the umrah packages.

Hajiji said Sabah residents returning from other overseas trips should bear the quarantine costs themselves.

“The quarantine conditions are set by the health ministry and the Sabah government from time to time. However, the entry of individuals into Sabah is bound by the existing conditions set by the state’s authorities,” he added.