Second mission to evacuate M’sians from Wuhan still on despite gov't dissolution

CORONAVIRUS | Despite the unclear political situation in Malaysia, the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission to bring back the second group of its citizens from Wuhan, China today remains unchanged.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, an official of the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) has confirmed that the humanitarian aid mission is still on.

Meanwhile, a source from the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed that the citizens and their families are scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow morning.

There will be 75 individuals returning to Malaysia in this mission, including their spouses and children, said the source.

"They expect to arrive in Kuala Lumpur around 6am tomorrow via an AirAsia special aircraft."

The second mission will follow the same standard operating procedure of the first mission on Feb 4, 2020, claimed the source from MOH.

There are 21 mission personnel involved including 12 AirAsia crewmembers, six from the health ministry, and one each from Nadma, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Department.

Health Ministry secretary-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the dissolution of the cabinet would not affect the government's effort in handling Covid-19.

"All health issues and challenges will be continued as usual," he told Malaysiakini in a text message this morning.

According to the procedures implemented in the last mission, all of those returning would undergo a health screening before they are allowed to board the flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

Those who exhibit symptoms will be kept in Wuhan for treatment. Once they arrive on home soil, all crew and passengers will undergo a second health screening at the Air Disaster Unit (ADU) at KLIA.

Those who pass the screening will then be bussed to a Home Surveillance Centre and quarantined for 14 days for further observation.

Nadma said it would inform family members of those quarantined about these processes.

Meanwhile, those found with 2019-nCoV symptoms will be hospitalised immediately.

The Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali had also assured that the civil service will uphold its obligations to serve the public in any circumstance.

“The civil service will always ensure the well-being of the people,” he said.

He also urged the public to remain calm and proceed with their daily affairs as usual.

The country is currently without a cabinet following Dr Mahathir Mohamad's shocking decision to resign as prime minister yesterday.

This was followed by the withdrawal of Bersatu and 11 PKR MPs from the Pakatan Harapan coalition, which caused the collapse of the coalition government.

Following this, Mahathir's resignation was accepted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who then installed Mahathir as the interim prime minister without a cabinet.

The Agong will be interviewing all MPs, except Mahathir, today and tomorrow to determine which MPs command majority support to lead the next government.

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