Malaysia's PM quarantines after minister tests positive for Covid-19, amid record spike in cases
Public anger over Malaysia's fast-worsening Covid-19 situation escalated on Monday, as the tally of new daily cases hit a record and the country's cabinet faced the prospect of self-quarantine after the religious affairs minister confirmed he had been infected.
Citizens have in recent days criticised Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's administration for the sharp spike, saying it was fuelled by politicians behaving as if they were above social distancing and isolation guidelines.
The Health Ministry reported 432 new cases on Monday, a sharp increase from 293 on Sunday and 317 on Saturday. A large portion of the new cases are in Sabah, where a snap poll triggered by mass defections was held on September 26.
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The government in turn has blamed undocumented migrants for the outbreak.
To compound headaches for Muhyiddin, Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri on Monday confirmed in a Facebook post that he had tested positive for Covid-19.
Zulkifli, Muhyiddin and other cabinet ministers had met in close quarters on Saturday for a briefing on the country's Covid-19 situation.
Zulkifli, 51, urged anyone who had come in close contact with him to get tested.
"I am currently undergoing treatment because I've tested positive for Covid-19 by the Health Ministry," Zulkifli wrote on Facebook. "Alhamdulillah, up to now I am still in good health."
In a subsequent statement, Muhyiddin said all officials who attended the meeting had been tested, and would self isolate for 14 days. He said he tested negative in swab tests conducted on September 22, 26 and 29. He added that fortnightly swab tests he has undergone since April had all been negative.
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin chairs a special meeting of the National Security Council on Coronavirus measures on October 3. Photo: DPA alt=Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin chairs a special meeting of the National Security Council on Coronavirus measures on October 3. Photo: DPA
Those who were deemed "close contacts" would do so under as part of mandatory Home Surveillance Orders served on them, while the others would voluntarily self quarantine, he said.
The prime minister said government business would not be affected as he would continue to work from home and hold meetings via videoconferencing.
Earlier, the government announced it would impose partial lockdown measures, known as a Conditional Movement Control Order, in three places in Sabah, including its capital Kota Kinabalu.
With the new restrictions that begin on Wednesday, all food and beverage establishments must cease dine-in services, and only businesses deemed essential can stay open. Only two people from each household can travel to shops for supplies, and schools will be indefinitely closed.
Malaysia's Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri confirmed he has Covid-19. Photo: Facebook alt=Malaysia's Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri confirmed he has Covid-19. Photo: Facebook
Last week, the government imposed similar local restrictions in four other districts in Sabah, one of the two semi-autonomous Malaysian states on Borneo island.
The state of Kedah has also been hit hard, with 241 new cases on Monday. Sabah had the second highest among Malaysia's 13 states and three federal territories, with 130 infections.
2,336 patients currently have active infections in the country.
With the public taking to social media to lay blame on politicians for the fresh wave of cases, members of Muhyiddin's governments have come out to defend themselves.
A key gripe of citizens was that politicians from Peninsular Malaysia who had returned from Sabah state after the polls had not isolated themselves as recommended by health officials.
Those returning from Sabah are not obliged to self isolate if they test negative after taking a mandatory test on arrival in Peninsular Malaysia.
Health Minister Adham Baba was quoted by local media on Sunday as saying the current spike may have to do with complacency among the public. Following the Saturday meeting, Muhyiddin meanwhile said the rise in infections was due to undocumented migrants entering Sabah.
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
