RETRACT THREE-DAY QUARANTINE ORDER FOR MINISTERS, 34 OPPOSITION MPS TELL GOVT

Dr Adham Baba

10 Feb 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government has been urged to retract the order to allow cabinet ministers returning from official overseas trips to quarantine for three days only compared to ordinary citizens who need to undergo quarantine for a longer time.

A total of 34 Opposition Members of Parliament from Warisan, PKR, DAP, Amanah, Muda, Pejuang and other parties in a joint statement today said, not only is such order unfair to ordinary citizens, but it is also not scientifically backed.

On Feb 8, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba has issued an order that for ministers returning from an official visit abroad only needs to underground quarantine for three days while ordinary citizens have to undergo 10 days' quarantine.

Due to this, they said statement provoked serious criticism from various quarters including infectious disease experts who also disputed the reduction of the quarantine period.

"On Feb 9, he defended his decision to argue that the three-day quarantine was only given to ministers who really followed the 'itinerary travel', which was not involved in any programme except a formal official meeting for quarantine easing, as did Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during his recent official visit to Indonesia.

"Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who paid an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, underwent a 10-day quarantine because his official visit schedule was said to be strict."

After receiving criticisms and backlashes by the public, Dr Adham Baba then stated that the order may be open to businessmen and the public soon as the government wanted to open the economy.

The MPs demanded the minister to explain the real rationale and criteria for Malaysians, regardless of whether they are ministers or ordinary people, who have returned from overseas on the issue of quarantine and control of Covid-19.

"Dr Adham Baba cannot issue an order granting relief to the Cabinet Ministers in the Government Gazette, then at will say the three-day quarantine relaxation is only given to ministers who really followed the "itinerary bubble".

"This means that there is "double-standard" quarantine among ministers who make official visits abroad. And not long after that, he (Dr Adham Baba) said the three-day quarantine would be open to the public.

"There is no consistency in his decision, even causing confusion in the country. We want the Government to implement a fair and equitable quarantine order for all parties as the virus does not recognise rank and position," the statement said, adding that government decisions on very important issues should be based on accurate information on science and pandemic control, not to provide comfort to ministers.

They said, there is a need for the minister to set a good example in regards to Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) compliance as stringent actions such as arrests and heavy fines have been imposed by the Government against members of the public.