AFTER a few close shaves with the dreaded coronavirus by virtue of being in close contact with people who were infected with COVID-19 when he was in office, former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin found himself tested positive this morning for the virus.
This was as the Perikatan Nasional chairman underwent a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.
Thankfully, Muhyiddin, who is also the Bersatu president, said he was only experiencing light symptoms and is in good condition.
“According to the Health Ministry’s protocol, I will undergo self-quarantine at home. To anyone who might be a close contact of mine, I advise you to comply with the protocol set by the Ministry,” he noted in a Facebook posting. “Please pray for my health and that of my family.”
Yesterday, the Pagoh MP chaired a National Recovery Council meeting which was attended by several ministers, including Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Recall that Muhyiddin completed his 14-day COVID-19 home quarantine during his tenure as Malaysia’s premier on Oct 16, 2020 and tested negative twice for the coronavirus.
This self-quarantine measure came about following an advice by the Health Ministry’s after a minister who attended a meeting he chaired was tested positive for COVID-19.
On Jan 14, it was reported that Muhyiddin and his delegation who were in Saudi Arabia to perform umrah (mini hajj) in March 2021 received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before travelling.
Mohd Naaim Mahmod, the special officer of the former prime minister, said allegations made by Ustaz Abu Syafiq that they were not vaccinated for COVID-19 or meningococcal meningitis when they performed the umrah were untrue.
“Muhyiddin and the entire delegation received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose before leaving for Saudi Arabia and received their second dose when they came back, while the meningococcal meningitis vaccine was not compulsory,” Mohd Naaim explained in a statement.
“Back then, the Malaysian and the Saudi Arabian governments did not impose any conditions that require complete COVID-19 vaccination or any other vaccination for travellers to Saudi Arabia.”
Mohd Naaim added that Muhyiddin’s official working visit as the eighth Malaysian PM to Saudi Arabia was at the invitation of the Saudi Arabian government and subject to strict standard operating procedures (SOPs), including a RT-PCR test, before, during and after the visit.
He added the RT-PCR Covid-19 tests for the entire delegation were negative. – Feb 9, 2022
