We have probably heard too many times over the past few weeks of cases of Malaysians who have been flouting their home quarantine upon returning to Malaysia.
Some of them caused or formed a new cluster; some were fined and some were even given jail time.
However, it seems that one minister managed to ‘escape’ his home quarantine that caused a massive backlash amongst Malaysians – Datuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali.
First test negative
The Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister apparently went to Turkey on 3 July and came back to the country on 7 July.
According to Harian Metro, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who is also Khairuddin’s predecessor, raised concerns when he appeared in parliament on 13 July, just a few days after his return.
A source close to Khairuddin confirmed that the minister had taken the COVID-19 test upon his arrival, but it came out negative.
“He will address this issue himself in the nearest time,” the source said.
The matter has left not only Malaysians, but also other politicians, outraged as the minister managed to evade or be exempted from the mandatory 14-day home quarantine.
Apparently Khairuddin didn’t need to quarantine because he tested negative & Turkey is a Green Zone country. Since when? They have about 6k deaths with 250k cases. Negative or not quarantine is mandatory at home that time https://t.co/AvWsIwsIow
— ????? ??????? (@ayshardzn) August 19, 2020
Menteri:
— Syed Saddiq ??? (@SyedSaddiq) August 18, 2020
tak perlu ikut SOP.
tak perlu kuarantin.
tak perlu bayar denda, kalau kena pun paling minimum.
Rakyat:
Makcik didenda RM8,000 kerana melanggar perintah kuarantin.
Ridiculous! Mana keadilan? Mana rasa tanggungjawab? https://t.co/SVvuPDund8
The Sivagangga cluster happened because the man was tested negative when he arrived in Malaysia, didn't quarantine himself, went out and about. Few days later, he is tested positive. You'd think we'd learn. But then there's our so-called leaders https://t.co/fZNInXuxbW
— Er-Diina⁷ (@n_irdeeeana) August 19, 2020
The sivagangga cluster broke out because the person responsible tested negative the first time but then was Covid-19 positive.
— Allif ?? (@maverick_97) August 19, 2020
Minister or not, Khairuddin has broken the rules and action must be taken. Even the Prime Minister quarantined for 14 days. There are no excuses. https://t.co/nmQqLllO4F
Ada waktu incubationlah bodoh. Kalau ini alasan dia, orang pakai gelang pink tak patut kena denda kerana masa landing negative covid.
— Effi Saharudin ????? (@1Obefiend) August 19, 2020
Pasal itu saya kata konsep “tak buat salah kenapa takut” ialah bodoh. Yang dihukum HANYA RAKYAT BIASA bukan VIP. Dah berkali dah. #RakyatIngat https://t.co/Ve3dpjPajp
Kedaulatan undang-undang antara dua darjat (Part 2) pic.twitter.com/yxOWP1vl90
— Fahmi Reza (@kuasasiswa) August 19, 2020
Calling for Datuk Dr Khairuddin Aman Razali to resign from his ministerial position due to his irresponsibility to adhere quarantine order. https://t.co/xEdqkav3LH
— Ed Junaidi (@edjunaidi) August 19, 2020
Negatif atau positif bukan persoalan. Tapi kenapa kuarantin wajib 14 hari tak dikenakan? Dan kalau balik dari oversea, mesti ada tag kan? Ke mana tag tu? Menteri pun cabut buang ke? https://t.co/DzKWp6TG2u
— M.K Izzuddin ?? (@k_izzuddin) August 18, 2020
Pergi Turki 3 Julai dan balik Malaysia 7 Julai. Sepatutnya Menteri kena kuarantin di rumah 14 hari. Kalau buka fb Menteri boleh tengok merata Menteri ni pergi. Tak nampak pula pakai gelang pink. Double standard? pic.twitter.com/CA4aU0esJn
— Syafiq al-Mahdaly® (@syafiq_mahdaly) August 19, 2020
Menteri diuji negatif bukan jawapan. Mamat Sivagangga tu pun masa ujian awal negatif. Makcik Perak 72 tahun tu pun bukan positif Covid-19.
— Amin Ahmad (@NoorAminAhmad) August 19, 2020
Under the National Security Council’s SOP, anyone returning to Malaysia must undergo the quarantine even if their test results are negative, while those tested positive were sent straight away to the hospital for treatment.
No one should be above the law, so we’re curious if any action will be taken against the minister.