KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 30): Chinese nationals working for the East Coast Rail Link(ECRL) mega project, who had returned to their hometowns, have been advised by their employers to postpone their return trip to Malaysia, following the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak in China.

The Human Resource Ministry in a statement today said the Chinese employees were granted leave of absence by the ECRL employers until the coronavirus in China is contained.

In the statement, the Ministry advised employers to continue paying salary to the workers who have been affected by the leave of absence.