Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today clarified that his remarks on condominium managements asking their residents to submit Covid-19 tests do not apply to Malaysians.
He added that while screening tenants is not required by the government, condominium managements are allowed to do as they see fit with foreigners.
"I wish to clarify further, that this is related to foreign tenants, not locals.
"In fact, I have said that there is no policy from the National Security Council saying anyone who wants to enter condominiums or any residential areas must do a swab test first.
"However, the government does not prevent any management of condominiums or residential areas to impose swab test rules on foreigners to safeguard residents in their area," he said in a statement today.
He explained that this is because condominiums and apartments are private areas, where the management can set their own rules, including blocking visitors, subject to existing laws.
It was reported that the management bodies of several condominiums have made it mandatory for their tenants to undergo a Covid-19 test.
However, several experts had reportedly said the management bodies have no legal right to do so.
The move has also been condemned by public health experts interviewed by Malaysiakini who said that it does not help to curb the coronavirus.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh also criticised Ismail's stance, saying it was not based on scientific methods.
"Covid-19 doesn't discriminate between house owners and tenants, between Malaysians and non-Malaysians, between the people and the ministers," she said yesterday.
Data showed that out of the 4,094 new cases yesterday, only 764 (19 percent) were foreigners. The remaining 81 percent were Malaysians.
Data on Covid-19 infection among foreigners was not made available today. - Mkini
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