The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has refuted allegations made by news portal Sarawak Report that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin breached self-quarantine rules and flew overseas to seek treatment for cancer.
“We wish to categorically state that the content in the report is completely baseless and the allegations are indeed malicious,” PMO said in a statement today.
Muhyiddin’s office said during the quarantine period, from May 22, “the prime minister strictly adhered to the SOP and did not leave his house. All official duties were conducted from home including a video conference with YB Senior Minister of Defence and Director General of Health.”
Ismail Sabri Yaakob is defence minister while Noor Hisham Abdullah is the Health director-general.
PMO said that Sarawak Report’s failure to prove its claims showed that this was a concerted effort to “smear” Muhyiddin.
“The writer and the Sarawak Report news portal must be held accountable for the false allegations hurled at the prime minister. The burden of proof is on the writer to back these frivolous claims regarding the private jet, hospital in Singapore and doctors as alleged,” PMO said.
According to Muhyiddin’s office, “several medical experts” had confirmed that “there was no evidence of cancer currently and there is no evidence of the recurring of the disease.”
The prime minister, PMO said, was “medically fit” to execute his duties. – June 16, 2020
