Although we've been living with COVID-19 pandemic for almost 10 months now, the past few weeks have been especially difficult not just with dealing with the pandemic, but also watching politicians and other atas people flouting SOPs with zero consequences.

While Security Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been announcing the number of people who've been arrested and fined for not following SOPs, none in the list included politicians who were campaigning without masks, with masks that weren't worn properly or not observing physical distancing.

Even after coming back from Sabah, where the number of COVID-19 positive cases have skyrocketed, few deemed it necessary to home quarantine or be disciplined when they go out.

Just like a usual day.
That backfired with many of the politicians, including some who congregated at a recent cabinet meeting in Johor, tested positive for the virus.

Since it's been quite a few days since Sabah elections and the cabinet meeting, and those tested positive as well as had close contact have been gallivanting about, the true impact is still unclear.

We've compiled the list of politicians who have been tested positive so far so if you've come into contact with them in that past 14 days or so, you might want to seek medical advice.

The list

Let's start with the latest one that blew up on social media. Just yesterday (5 October 2020) Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri was confirmed to be COVID-19 positive.

It was a sad enough news, but when images of the minister making visits without masks and not physically distancing himself during the visits surfaced, concerns of how many people he has exposed to the virus have emerged.

Some even took the initiative to make a list of all the places the minister visited to help keep others informed.

Deputy Environment and Water Minister Ahmad Masrizal Mohamad was also found to be positive for COVID-19 virus upon his return from Sabah, but luckily for the rakyat, he self quarantined so the number of people who came into close contact with him was minimal.

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan and Umno Supreme Council member Razlan Muhammad Rafii were also found to be positive for the virus after their return from campaigning in Sabah.

Shahril announced his positive result on social media on 23 September, and apologised for the inconvenience caused to those he came into contact with.


Razlan was also found positive for the virus after Sabah elections. Images of him campaigning without a face mask were aplenty, including on his own social media which he deleted but the internet never forgets.

Ayer Limau assemblyman Datuk Amiruddin Yusof​ initially tested negative but four days later, Alor Gajah health district office called to tell him that his result was actually positive.

Since he was cleared and the Health Ministry had said that there was no need for 14-day quarantine, the ADUN went about his days as usual and met many people.

Amiruddin and his family was quarantined after the news was received.

Azman Narudin also tested positive.
Kedah agriculture and food industry, agriculture entrepreneurship and commodity, transport and Indian community affairs committee chairman Azman Nasrudin is another politician found positive.

He was campaigning in Sabah and had attended an event in Langkawi before his test.

His wife, who is a teacher, also tested positive, forcing 600 students from her school to undergo COVID-19 tests.

Shatir Mansor confirms that he tested positive.
Kota Damansara state assemblyman Shatiri Mansor, his wife and two children have also tested positive.

The assemblyman, who was in Sabah recently, and his family have been under home quarantine since his return as his wife was unwell and was later found to be positive and sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital.

Lim Yi Wei has set a good example.
The last name on our list is Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei. She's probably the only politician who was found positive, and was praised by the public for setting a good example.

On her social media, Lim has detailed her first two negative tests and the third test that showed her to be positive. Since she was in quarantine the whole time, her contact with others was limited but she asked those who had come into contact with her to get tested and apologised for the inconvenience.


We can flatten the curve; together.


Considering that the number of COVID-19 cases has consistently been high the past few days, perhaps it's time for all of us to take extra measures to keep safe.

Another MCO may be disasterous for many, but perhaps we can do simple things like follow the SOPs, avoid going out unless absolutely necessary and whatever else we did during MCO where possible.

We've flattened the curve before, we can do it again. Together.