Half the cost of quarantine in hotels for our sponsored graduate students overseas is to be borne by sponsors after they return home starting June 1.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this would mean that 50 per cent of the quarantine cost would be borne by the government while the rest would be paid by the sponsor.

He said some of the students who had graduated were government-sponsored besides the Public Service Department (PSD).

"Many are appealing that they are exempted from the quarantine cost which previously required them to pay 50 per cent.

"Following this, the Special Ministers' Meeting agreed to bear half (the cost) and parents need not worry," he said at a press conference here on Thursday.

In the meantime, he said, to date, about 18,000 Malaysians abroad had already applied online and signed an acceptance letter to pay 50 per cent cost of mandatory quarantine for 14 days after returning to the country.

He said most of them were students who had graduated and there was no need to remain overseas.