Explain SOP breach or police report will be lodged, DAP MP tells minister
A DAP lawmaker has demanded an explanation from Minister of Industry, Plantation and Commodities Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali for not adhering to the Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP).
“We will give the minister until the end of today to explain why we should not lodge a police report against him for violating the required SOP,” Lim Lip Eng told Malaysiakini this afternoon.
A DAP lawmaker has demanded an explanation from Industry, Plantations and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali for not adhering to the Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP).
“We will give the minister until the end of today to explain why we should not lodge a police report against him for violating the required SOPs,” Lim Lip Eng told Malaysiakini this afternoon.
The minister, according to news reports quoting a source close to him, underwent a special Covid-19 test upon returning home on July 7 following a visit to Turkey.
The overseas trip, said the source, was approved by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin with Turkey categorised as a green zone country at the time.
However, data shows that during Khairuddin's visit, Turkey recorded more than 5,600 new Covid-19 cases and 93 deaths calling the green zone claim into question.
The country has more than 250,000 Covid-19 cases and 6,061 fatalities from the disease in total.
'Shouldn't the minister be jailed, fined?'
Though he tested negative, Lim said the minister should have undergone quarantine as the virus could take up to 14 days to manifest.
He pointed out that Muhyiddin and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad underwent quarantine after coming into contact with Covid-19 positive individuals.
“Why was Khairuddin given extra special treatment?” he added.
The Kepong MP also noted how the restaurant operator responsible for the Sivagangga cluster in Kedah had tested negative upon his return but was later found to be positive.
The Alor Setar Magistrate's Court subsequently sentenced the restaurant operator to five months’ jail and RM12,000 fine for not observing home quarantine which resulted in the virus spreading.
“Should not the minister be also liable for five months jail and RM12,000 fine like the restaurant owner in Kubang Pasu who broke home quarantine rules?” asked Lim, who is a lawyer.
Meanwhile, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu also called for Khairuddin to be investigated.
“He needs to explain why he did not need to be quarantined for 14 days.
“We call upon the government to investigate. If he truly did not follow the rules, the government should take action,” he told Malaysiakini when met in Kota Bahru, Kelantan today.
The Kota Raja MP said he hoped the government would not accord the minister any preferential treatment and penalise the latter as they did Malaysians who breached the home quarantine rule.
Khairuddin's purported failure to observe the SOP was first raised by another DAP lawmaker, Teresa Kok, in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
“The plantations and commodities minister went to Turkey from July 3 to 7, and on (July) 13 he came to Parliament.
"We know that everyone who goes overseas and comes back must be quarantined for 14 days but now a cabinet minister has not followed this rule," she added.
Turkey not a green zone
Today, Kok commented further: "We have also read of some people who tested negative (for) Covid-19 initially were found positive a few days later. That is why the 14-day quarantine must be complied with by all those returning from abroad, including the minister".
She cited worldometers.info for the data on Covid-19 cases in Turkey during the time Khairuddin was there:
"July 3 - 1,172 new cases (Deaths: 19)
July 4 - 1,154 new cases (Deaths: 20)
July 5 - 1,148 new cases (Deaths: 19)
July 6 - 1,086 new cases (Deaths: 16)
July 7 - 1,053 new cases (Deaths: 19)"
Kok said active Covid-19 cases in Turkey as of July 3, 2020, totalled 19,992 while the active cases on July 6 were 18,608.
"The data shows that Turkey was not a green zone when Khairuddin visited Turkey as stated by (those) who gave a statement to Harian Metro."
"This means that the presence of Khairuddin in Parliament since July 13 and his presence in many meetings and councils has exposed all who were present with him to risks.
"A magistrate even sentenced Nur Emas Mohamad Hashim, a 72-year-old woman, to a one-day imprisonment and a fine of RM8,000.
"Therefore, court action should also be taken against this minister to show that the National Security Council does not practice double standards in terms of enforcement of Covid-19 offences," she added.
Additional reporting by N Faizal Ghazali.
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