by BERNAMA/ pic by TMR FILE

THE government yesterday has agreed to bring back certain home-based staff of Wisma Putra and other government agencies located in China with their wives and dependents following the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus in that country.

Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (picture) said they would be brought back by commercial flights in stages as soon as possible, which would hopefully be implemented next week depending on the flights still available.

Besides the embassy office in Beijing, Saifuddin said Malaysia also had consulates in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kunming, Nanning, Shanghai and Xi’an other than Taipei with a total 34 Wisma Putra officials and 77 dependents.

Meanwhile, the number of government agency officers in China such as the Malaysian External Trade Development Corp, Malaysian Investment Development Authority and Tourism Malaysia stood at 52 people with 135 dependents.

“…from that figure, we will evaluate how many people (officers) need to stay and how many will be taken home as we will only leave behind the number of employees either from Wisma Putra or the agencies that are really needed right now.

“For couples and children, we intend to bring home as soon as possible. This will not affect the work there because some tasks could not be done because of many city lockdowns… what is under consideration is who will be taken home,” he said.

Saifuddin said this at a press conference after attending the Unity @ Community Programme in conjunction with the 2020 Chinese New Year in Kampung Batu Satu in Bentong, Pahang.

He said, besides the safety factor, the decision to take them home was also made in the event of a food supply shortage if the situation persists, although so far, supply is still high and the government would also send food there.

Commenting on the 34 Malaysians who were still in Wuhan because they could not board the plane yesterday for logistical reasons, Saifuddin said priority is still being given to bring them home and Wisma Putra had been in touch with Malaysian representatives there.