A Deputy Minister Who Returned From Sabah Has Now Tested Positive For COVID-19
Dr Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad, who is from UMNO, is being treated at Sungai Buloh Hospital.
By Sadho Ram — 03 Oct 2020, 01:48 PM — Updated about 4 years ago
The Deputy Minister of Environment and Water has contracted COVID-19, according to a report in Malaysiakini earlier today, 3 October
The Malaysiakini report cited a senior aide to UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
According to the report, the aide identified the infected politician as Dr Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad, who was made Deputy Environment and Water Minister after being appointed as a Senator.
The report about the UMNO politician testing positive for COVID-19 has also confirmed was by The Malaysian Insight, which said that he has been admitted at Sungai Buloh Hospital.
Dr Ahmad Masrizal was admitted on Thursday evening, 1 October, and is said to be in stable condition.
A file photo of Dr Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad at Dewan Negara earlier this year.
Image via Yusof Mat Isa/Malay MailMalaysiakini reported that Ahmad Masrizal had returned from Sabah
He is said to have been campaigning for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the state elections which took place on 26 September. He attended an event on 25 September at Tanjung Lipat beach in Kota Kinabalu.
Ahmad Masrizal said that his first COVID-19 test that was conducted upon arrival at the airport had come back negative
"I decided to undergo another screening last Wednesday before returning to the office on Monday. I tested positive after the second test, despite not showing any symptoms," he was quoted as saying.
"Alhamdulillah, I'm feeling well without experiencing fever and coughing," he said.
COVID-19 cases have spiked after the Sabah state elections
On Friday, 2 October, Malaysia recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases in a day at 287.
Prior to which, the highest number of COVID-19 cases recorded in a day was at 277 on 4 June.
All the cases recorded yesterday were local transmissions.
While Kedah reported the highest number of positive cases at 129, followed by Sabah at 113 cases, Selangor, which is the country's most developed and populated state, reported 31 cases.
Prior to that, a teacher in SK Permatang Janggus in Penang tested positive for COVID-19.
The woman, in her 40s, is the wife of a politician from Kedah.
Her husband had recently gone campaigning in Sabah for the state elections.
Following which, Zahid Hamidi said that on behalf of all UMNO and BN members, he would like to apologise to Malaysians
According to Zahid Hamidi, while the spike in COVID-19 cases is due to the Sabah elections, holding the elections wasn't BN's decision.
The UMNO president advised BN members and machinery who were at the Sabah elections to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) that have been set by MOH.
"Take care of yourself and pray that Allah will heal this pandemic," he said.
Keep practising physical distancing and wash your hands often. Watch the latest update on the COVID-19 situation:
