De Facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan said his cabinet and PAS party colleague Khairuddin Aman Razali must undergo the legal due process even though he is a minister over claims the latter violated quarantine rules amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Leave it to the authorities (and) Health Ministry, if there are police reports to be investigated.
"The legal process is as usual even if it involves a minister," Takiyuddin (above) said after handing out aid to students in Kota Bharu today.
Khairuddin has been accused of failing to quarantine after returning from a work trip in Turkey on July 7.
The plantations, industries and commodities minister attended Parliament less than a week later, on July 13.
However, Takiyuddin maintained that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
"If the court finds someone guilty, then he's guilty, be it regular people or leaders," he said.
Khairuddin's purported breach of the quarantine order was first highlighted by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in the Dewan Rakyat.
The Kuala Nerus MP had explained that he underwent three Covid-19 tests which have all returned negative.
However, he has not addressed the alleged quarantine violation, merely stating that he will leave it to the authorities to explain the matter.
The Health Ministry is now investigating the case.
Khairuddin's (above) case has received attention amid complaints that ordinary citizens are treated more harshly than VIPs.
On Aug 14, a 72-year-old woman was fined RM8,000 and given a day in jail for violating the home quarantine order after pictures of her wearing a pink person-under-surveillance wristband while eating at a restaurant went viral.
According to the Health Ministry's standard operating procedure, all those returning from overseas must undergo a swab test for Covid-19.
If they are found to be negative, they will be sent to a quarantine centre to carry out a 14-day isolation period and if they are found to be positive, they will be sent to a hospital for treatment.
Prior to July 24, overseas returnees who test negative must still undergo quarantine but were allowed to do so at home.
They are not allowed to leave home for 14 days and must be retested on the 13th day before their quarantine bracelet can be removed.
From July 24 onwards, quarantine must be done at government-designated centres. The measure was reintroduced after many violated their quarantine conditions at home. - Mkini
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