34 opposition MPs urge govt to withdraw unscientific 3-day quarantine option

 

A group of 34 opposition lawmakers have banded together, urging the government and Health Minister Dr Adham Baba to retract the three-day quarantine option made available to ministers returning from overseas.

The MPs, in a joint statement, said ministers should set an example on following the standard operating procedures (SOPs), which are being enforced strictly on accused violators.

"(Ministers) should not be the cause of new clusters when meeting the people without adhering to the SOPs," they added.

"We also urge that cabinet to hold immediate detailed discussions on the quarantine issue for Malaysians returning from abroad and make fair and equal decisions for all based on scientific data, and not to make life easier for ministers.”

Among the signatories of the statement were Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking, Muda co-founder Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, DAP deputy secretary-general Teresa Kok, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, and Sabah PKR chief Christina Liew.

Two days ago, Adham issued an order allowing him to relax the quarantine period for ministers returning from abroad to three days instead of 10.

In justifying this, Adham said this may eventually be extended to business travellers and the public.

This, he said, is because the 10-day quarantine period had deterred investors from visiting the country, hurting the economy.

"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," the health minister had said.

A full list of the 34 MPs who signed the statement are as follows

1. Darell Leiking (Penampang)
2. Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar)
3. Mohd Azis Jamman (Sepanggar)
4. Hannah Yeoh (Segambut)
5. Yeo Bee Yin (Bakri)
6. Baru Bian (Selangau)
7. Datuk Rozman Isli (Labuan)
8. Salahuddin Ayub (Pulai)
9. Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu)
10. Teo Nie Ching (Kulai)
11. Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Kota Belud)
12. Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena)
13. Khalid Samad (Shah Alam)
14. Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji (Raub)
15. Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya)
16. Wong Shu Qi (Kluang)
17. Teresa Kok (Seputeh)
18. Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor)
19. Dr Lee Boon Chye (Gopeng)
20. Kasthuriraani Patto (Batu Kawan)
21. P Prabakaran (Batu)
22. M Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat)
23. Chong Chieng Jen (Stampin)
24. Sivarasa Rasiah (Sungai Buloh)
25. Chan Foong Hin (Kota Kinabalu)
26. Steven Choong (Tebrau)
27. Dr Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam)
28. Chan Ming Kai (Alor Setar)
29. Dr Azman Ismail (Kuala Kedah)
30. Thomas Su (Kampar)
31. Alice Lau (Lanang)
32. Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru)
33. Datuk Christina Liew (Tawau)
34. Nor Azrina Surip @ Nurin Aina (Merbok) - Mkini