Malaysians Angered By Minister Who Flouted Home Quarantine After Returning From Turkey

Malaysiakini reported that during a Parliament sitting on 18 August, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said in the Dewan Rakyat, "The Plantations and Commodities Minister went to Turkey from 3 to 7 July, and on 13 (July) he came to Parliament."

"We know that everyone who goes overseas and comes back must be quarantined for 14 days, but now a Cabinet minister has not followed this rule," she added.

In an interview, she told Malaysiakini that she had been informed of the matter by her sources.

The source told Sinar Harian, "His trip abroad was with the permission of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Turkey at the time was still categorised as a green zone country."

They did not disclose the reason why Khairuddin was exempted from the quarantine but said the minister will issue a statement about the matter soon.

The owner of the nasi kandar restaurant linked to the Sivaganga cluster, Nezar Mohamed Sabur Batca, has been charged with five months in jail and a RM12,000 fine for violating the HSO.

On the other hand, a woman in Perak was sentenced to one day in jail and a RM8,000 fine for dining out while under quarantine orders.

The most recent case involves a technician from Penang who was slapped with a RM2,500 fine, in default of five days' jail.

According to New Straits Times, Deputy Public Prosecutor Rais Imran Hamid said, "There is no time for the accused to be selfish and think only of himself. If the people can stay at home for three months during the MCO, why can't the accused observe the 14-day home quarantine order?"

Syahredzan Johan, lawyer and political secretary to Lim Kit Siang, wrote, "The issue isn't whether his COVID-19 screening results are positive or negative. The issue is that everyone needs to undergo quarantine. Regular people have to undergo quarantine. What makes ministers so special? Are they aristocrats?"

Meanwhile, another user said, "The Sivaganga cluster broke out because the person responsible tested negative the first time but was then COVID-19 positive. Minister or not, Khairuddin has broken the rules and action must be taken. Even the Prime Minister quarantined for 14 days. There are no excuses."

"Sivaganga (index patient) and the mak cik with the pink tag both tested negative upon arriving in Malaysia. Both didn't quarantine. Sivaganga (index patient) tested again positive and that mak cik's second test was negative but she was jailed one day plus a RM8,000 fine," stressed another netizen.