However, there have been some rulings made recently that are absolute head-scratchers, like the decision to allow ministers who return from an overseas trip to skip the mandatory ten-day quarantine period and opt for just three days:

Of course, Malaysians did not agree with the ruling, and a lot of them took to their social media pages to voice out their displeasure.

It's all for the economy

On Tuesday (9 February), after receiving major criticisms from the rakyat and lawmakers alike, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba has stepped forward to offer an explaination for the controversial decision.

Adham told news portal Malaysiakini that the decision to reduce the quarantine period from ten days to just three is aimed at opening up the economy.

According to Adham, the ten-day quarantine period had apparently scared off investors and foreign dignitaries who want to come to Malaysia for investment purposes.

"The reason the government is doing this is to make sure we can open up our economy," he was quoted as saying.

Adham said the old ruling required travellers to take a swab test for three consecutive days before departure, plus seven days of quarantine in Malaysia.

If they do not take a swab test before departure, they are subjected to a negative swab test at the international entry point and a quarantine of 10 days.

And that, Adham revealed, is the reason why no one wants to invest in Malaysia.

"That's why investors don't come, foreign leaders don't visit... and because of that investments don't come in," he was quoted as saying.

While Adham agrees that the ten-day quarantine period is based on clinical data and is the recommended period for self-quarantine, he said this was "not all about science".

"This is not about science totally. This is about how we regulate who will go abroad.

"Abroad, they don't have to quarantine, but they have to quarantine when they return. This is not fair," he was quoted as saying.

Umm, whatever you say, sir!

Lab rats?

For the time being, the relaxed quarantine rule only applies to ministers returning from overseas, said Adham, and there's a valid reason for that (not because of double standards, OK?).

"We start with ministers first because it is easy to make an order before we open it up to the public... maybe businesspersons," he was quoted as saying.

The ministers have to follow a strict itinerary during their overseas trips. The same applies for foreign dignitaries and businesspersons if they want to come over and invest in our beautiful country.

But here's the good news, you guys: we, too, can soon enjoy the relaxed quarantine rule!

Adham told the news portal that if we, the rakyat, follow a strict itinerary and fully adhere to the regulations just like our hard-working ministers who risk their lives to bring in investments during the time of a deadly pandemic, we can then go home and spread the virus to every one after spending only three days in quarantine.