Police will track down overseas returnees who don't do second test - minister

CORONAVIRUS | The police will be tracking down "persons under surveillance" who failed to get a second Covid-19 test during their home quarantine, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The senior minister issued the warning as the Health Ministry revealed that over 1,400 overseas returnees had not gone for a second test, which was supposed to be done on the 13th day of their two-week home quarantine period.

"Those 1,400 people who are still stubborn... We will send the police to find them and get them to do the second testing.

"So, now, they can either wait for the police to visit, or they can go to the clinics, or arrange with the Health Ministry to get themselves tested," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Two days ago, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 1,472 individuals who were allowed to continue their quarantine at home had yet to undergo retesting, which they were required to do on the 13th day of their quarantine period.

In another development, Ismail also announced that the government is allowing more activities to be conducted in mosques and suraus.

Activities like kuliah (religious talks), tazkirah session before Friday prayers, Dhuha prayers and Quran learning classes can resume starting this week, he said.

"However, they still need to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) that have been set for mosques.

"Number of participants must also depend on the size of the venue and social distancing rules must be followed."

On a related matter, Ismail said the government is organising a campaign to increase public awareness on Covid-19.

He said this is a part of the government's efforts to instil new norm and self-discipline in the people to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The campaign, which would be launched by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin before end of this month, also opens the opportunity for Malaysians to participate in creating its logo and tagline.

Ismail said they are organising a competition that is open to all citizens from today until July 10 where they can get creative and submit their logo and tagline to the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

"For this competition, the first place winner would get a cash reward of RM5,000, second runner up (RM3,000) while third place gets RM1,000," he told reporters.

To participate in the competition and further inquiries, go to the ministry's website at www.kkmm.gov.my, or www.penerangan.gov.my.

Meanwhile, Ismail also repeats his call for Singapore to reciprocate in border control relaxation.

In answering a question about the case of a Singaporean teenager who was turned away at the Johor Causeway last week, he said Singapore also had not relaxed its travel restrictions against Malaysian citizens.

Over 250,000 Malaysians who work in Singapore were also yet to be allowed to enter the republic, Ismail added.

"I hope there will be reciprocal. When we relax our rules to allow their citizens to come into Malaysia, they should do the same and allow ours to enter their country as well.

"A bilateral relation must benefit both sides, not only one," he said.

In the teenager's case, news portal Free Malaysia Today reported that 17-year-old Muhammad Shafqat Ali was denied entry by Malaysia as he had not undergone a Covid-19 test.

According to the article, Shafqat was unable to get tested for Covid-19 in Singapore as they do not test those who do not have any symptoms.

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