Charge Khairuddin in court, says Umno man

Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali paid a compound fine, but Puad Zarkashi said he should be charged in court.

PETALING JAYA: A senior Umno member has called for plantation and commodities minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali to be charged in court for a Covid-19-related offence.

Puad Zarkashi, an Umno Supreme Council member, said Khairuddin’s willingness to donate four months salary to the Covid-19 disaster relief fund showed he knew the seriousness of his offence.

He said the Perikatan Nasional government would be accused of political interference in the case and of being unreliable.

“There are two big issues here. First, the breaking of the 14-day quarantine rule for those who return from overseas, and second, the compound amount which seems be applied at whims and fancies,” he said.

He questioned why the health ministry appeared to have a double standard. “Why is the compound amount so low and unfair? Why ruin the ministry’s good brand?”

He said the government should not use the ministry for cover. “Khairuddin should be charged in court,” he said.

Khairuddin had come under public criticism after Seputeh MP Teresa Kok questioned why he had not been placed under the mandatory 14-day home quarantine after returning from an official trip to Turkey last month.

The health ministry said he had been penalised with a RM1,000 compound, which he had paid. Khairuddin then made a public apology for his conduct and said he would donate four months of his salary. He said the incident was the result of an oversight. - FMT