Story By: Lee Bullen,Sub Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: Asia Wire Report 

An online petition has been launched by a Malaysian resident calling for the government to ban Chinese citizens from entering the country following the coronavirus outbreak – and over 400,000 people have signed it.

Netizen ‘Muhammad Zaim Yusran Mohd Zaidy’ reportedly set up the change.org petition on 25th January.

The campaign originally asked for 50,000 signatures, but when it reached that total in the first day, it has since been increased to 500,000, according to reports.

Over 400,000 have already signed it amid concerns over the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak that is believed to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The campaign message reads: “This petition is to push the government to bar Chinese people from entering our beloved country.

“The new virus is widely spread throughout the world because of its unhygienic lifestyle. The government should think more about the health of Malaysians.

“Don’t wait until there is death among Malaysian people then only the government wants to take some preventive action.

“Please sign this petition to save our family and children. Thanks and may the God be with us.”

Cases of coronavirus have been registered in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Macau, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, USA and France, according to reports.

Malaysia has four reported cases of the virus after a 40-year-old Chinese man from Wuhan arrived in the Malaysian city of Johor Baru on 22nd January on a bus from Singapore, according to local media.

The affected man was reportedly with a group of 17 Chinese tourists which included his wife and child.

Even though one person was diagnosed with the illness, the Malaysian authorities have reportedly quarantined the whole group pending further tests.

The Chinese government has already imposed travel restrictions into Wuhan while the Philippine authorities sent back 500 Chinese tourists from the affected city on 24th January, according to reports.

North Korea had also banned all foreign tourists from entering the country following the outbreak.

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