Coronavirus Malaysia: Muhyiddin’s government takes more flak over quarantine exemption order for cabinet ministers
- A ruling under which ministers returning to the country only have to quarantine for three days was met with fierce criticism, if not ridicule
- It was the Muhyiddin government’s latest misstep on the matter, after a number of politicians were caught last year violating Covid-19 restrictions
The announcement of the policy was met with widespread condemnation if not outright ridicule, with many describing it as reflective of the double standards on Covid-19 protocol as ordinary people shelter in place under a national lockdown that limits travel and economic activity.
Under the ruling by Health Minister Adham Baba, cabinet ministers returning to the country from any official overseas visits will only need to be “observed” by an authorised officer for a period of three days “or to undergo surveillance until he may be discharged without danger to the public”.
When pressed on the issue, Adham admitted that the exemption order was not based on science but was made because of the need to allow cabinet ministers to take overseas trips in order to bring foreign investments back into the country at a time when the economy is suffering.
Speaking to The Star newspaper, Adham assured Malaysians that the itineraries of ministers would be closely monitored and the leaders released from isolation only “if the health authorities are completely certain that the minister is not a threat to the health of the community”.
“If there is even the slightest indication that they may be a carrier or suffering from symptoms, then they will be placed under further observation until the health authorities are completely satisfied before releasing them,” he was quoted as saying.
The three-day period is a week less than Malaysia’s mandatory 10-day quarantine for those taking either international or domestic flights.
