Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali flew to Turkey, a source close to the minister told news publication Sinar Harian, confirming a claim by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok yesterday.
The source, however, did not disclose the reason Khairuddin was exempted from serving the 14 days’ mandatory quarantine, but that he tested negative upon returning.
Kok, who is Khairuddin’s predecessor, raised the matter in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that the minister showed up in Parliament on July 13 despite only returning to the country six days prior.
This was a clear breach of the standard operating procedures introduced to contain Covid-19 infections in the country, she said.
Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye also joined in asking why the minister was not made to undergo quarantine, pointing out Covid-19 was severe in Turkey that has already encountered over 250,000 cases and 6,000 deaths.
The source told Sinar Harian that Khairuddin’s trip abroad was with the permission of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Turkey was at that time categorised as a green zone country.
The source did not explain why Khairuddin was exempted from the quarantine but said the minister will issue a statement soon.
Malaysia has set in place a mandatory 14-day medical quarantine for all returnees. They are tested on arrival and those with negative results must then serve their 14-day quarantine while those testing positive are sent to a hospital for further treatment.
Returnees are tested again on the 13th day of their quarantine and are only released upon a negative Covid-19 result.
A breach of this order is punishable under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 by up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
