Politicians not solely responsible for bringing Covid-19 from Sabah - minister

 

COVID-19 | Not all individuals who tested positive with Covid-19 after returning from Sabah are politicians, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Speaking after a special ministers meeting on Covid-19, he said that tourists and businesspersons also make up the statistics of travellers who were found positive for the virus in other states after visiting Sabah.

"Many blamed politicians. I want to inform here that the figure of Sabah returnees who were screened (upon arrival) is around 13,000.

"And from this, over 130 have tested positive. This is only one percent from the total number of those who had returned from Sabah.

"Many started panicking as if half of the figure (had been found positive). If it was half, it would be around 7,000 people," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today. 

"This is only 132, and the number consists of a mix of... I agree that some of them are politicians who were involved in the state election, but the number also includes tourists who went for a holiday in Sabah, and also those who went there for official matters or business.

"From over 130 (of those infected), not all of them are politicians. So, this is not solely on politicians," he added.

Ismail, who is in charge of security, was answering a question about the public outcry on social media over the last couple of days that blamed politicians for allegedly being responsible for the spike in new positive cases.

This came after the Health Ministry recorded a high number of daily cases for two days in a row on Thursday (260 cases) and Friday (287). The number on Friday was the highest ever recorded in Malaysia since the country was hit by the pandemic early this year.

The defence minister also announced that the government decided to beef up border security at Sabah's east coast.

He said that the decision was made because undocumented migrants had caused the recent spike of Covid-19 in that particular region.

"Today, the meeting found that there is a need to enhance the 'Op Benteng' to tighten security in Sabah's east coast so that we can prevent undocumented migrants from entering," he said.

The move would see additional manpower and assets for the armed forces, police and Maritime Enforcement Agency, Ismail added. 

New SOP for ministers travelling overseas

Meanwhile, Ismail told reporters the National Security Council meeting that was chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today had made several decisions regarding measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Among them was new standard operating procedures (SOP) for country leaders who travel overseas for work purposes.

According to the defence minister, the government has decided to allow country leaders to travel overseas for issues related to national interest but they have to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon return.

"There is no exception to anyone," he said.

For foreign delegates who want to come to the country for official business, the government is only allowing entry to delegates led by officials of minister rank or above.

The delegates are not required to undergo a 14-day quarantine, but they must get tested for the coronavirus twice - once in their home country three days before departure, and once upon arrival in Malaysia.

They are also not allowed to go anywhere else other than venues for their official business here.

"If they come here for a meeting, then after it is concluded and there is nothing else, they have to depart for their home country."

During the presser, Ismail issued a warning against the practice of sharing private information concerning individuals who allegedly tested positive for Covid-19.

He said this when asked to confirm if a deputy minister had been tested for the coronavirus, as reported by the media today.

Ismail told reporters that such practice is infringing on the privacy of others, and can open one to lawsuits.

"We cannot share any private data. I don't understand why recently so many photos and names are being published. These were not released by the Health Ministry. The ministry won't even release such information.

"Some of them are even fake, untrue," he added.

Ismail said that the same goes for the list of people who had close contact with positive patients, which is only kept by the Health Ministry. - Mkini