Weekly Cabinet meeting called off after five ministers undergo self-quarantine

 

SHAH ALAM: The weekly Cabinet meeting has been called off as five ministers are undergoing self-quarantine after returning from the Sabah state polls last Saturday.

Sinar Harian reported that the five ministers are Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussien, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee.

Ismail Sabri (pic) said that he underwent a swab test as soon as he returned from Sabah and will need to be quarantined at home until the results are released.

"The swab test is for status confirmation and if the result is negative, then you're free from quarantine.

"But even if you are free from quarantine after being tested negative, you must continue to practise self-control. Obey the SOP (standard operating procedure)," he said in a statement on his Facebook on Tuesday (Sept 29).

Ismail Sabri also advised anyone with symptoms to go for a swab test immediately at a clinic or hospital.

"However, 14 days of quarantine is mandatory even if the result is negative if there was close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19," he said.

Hishammuddin has been instructed by the Health Ministry (MOH) to undergo quarantine at home starting from Sept 28 after returning from campaigning in Sabah.

"In Sabah, I went to Pitas to help the campaign of the Barisan Nasional candidate Sufian Abdul Karim who tested positive for Covid-19. I have been instructed to undergo self-quarantine at home despite testing negative upon arrival from Sabah," he said.

"I know that some of the BN machinery has been confirmed to be Covid-19 positive and I hope that they stay strong and have a speedy recovery.

"Even though we complied with the SOP during the campaign, we are facing an invisible virus and the risk of infection remains high," he wrote on Facebook. - Star