Guan Eng: Even Agong underwent quarantine but why not minister?
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has questioned why Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali did not undergo quarantine following his return from Turkey on July 7, when even the Yang di-Pertuan Agong self-quarantined after his palace staff tested positive for Covid-19.
Khairuddin had previously defended himself by saying that the fact he was allowed entry into the Palace on Aug 17 proved he had tested negative for the coronavirus...
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has questioned why Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali did not undergo quarantine following his return from Turkey on July 7, when even the Yang di-Pertuan Agong self-quarantined after his palace staff tested positive for Covid-19.
Khairuddin had previously defended himself by saying that the fact he was allowed entry into the Palace on Aug 17 proved he had tested negative for the coronavirus.
“Khairuddin still refuses to see that whether he was tested negative or not is not the issue. If he had tested positive, he would be in the hospital and the matter would have ended there.
“The issue is why he and his family were not subjected to the 14-day quarantine order. Clearly this is a double standard in the enforcement of the rule of law where ministers get off scot-free, while ordinary folk are punished with arrest, handcuffed and fined," Lim said in a statement today.
The former finance minister added that Khairuddin should learn from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who was praised for his "leadership by example".
"(The Agong had) imposed on himself a 14-day quarantine after one of his palace staff was tested positive for Covid-19.
“If the Agong can comply with Covid-19 safety protocols despite enjoying legal immunity, why not Khairuddin? Or does Khairudin consider himself to enjoy a special status?” Lim asked.
Khairuddin had previously responded to the allegations against him by saying that the Health Ministry would issue a statement.
Lim said this statement from Khairuddin “smacked of arrogance and irresponsibility”.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who was the one to expose that Khairuddin did not undergo quarantine, also had alleged that the minister attended at least 12 programmes and meetings after his return from Turkey, Lim added.
Lim then pointed to Ireland, where a minister had resigned two days after breaching a Covid-19 safety protocol.
“In contrast… Khairuddin’s arrogance and refusal to admit he was wrong after more than six weeks is unacceptable and against public interest.
“This is no longer a question about punishing Khairuddin for his wrongdoing but on whether he is fit and proper to be a minister in His Majesty’s government,” Lim said.
The Kuala Nerus MP was accused of flouting the compulsory 14-day quarantine for overseas returnees.
Previously, he confirmed with the media that he had taken a Covid-19 test upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) after his trip to Turkey and that he had attended the Dewan Rakyat sitting on July 13.
For the record, at the time of Khairuddin's visit from July 3 to 7, more than 5,600 new Covid-19 cases and 93 deaths were reported in Turkey.
Turkey has had more than 250,000 Covid-19 cases and 6,061 fatalities from the disease in total.
