KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 25 -- Foreign spouses and children of Malaysians who do not hold long-term permits are allowed back into the country as long as they apply for the necessary permits as soon as they pass customs and immigration at border entry points.

Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the government had received a lot of requests asking that these family members be reunited after Malaysia shut its borders in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

"The special Cabinet meeting discussed the situation of our citizens who have foreign spouses and children who are not allowed into the country because they do not hold any long-term permits," said the senior minister on the catch-22 situation.

"In order for...