Now, ministers only need to undergo three-days observation upon return from official overseas duties, latest Act 342 exemption shows
The gazette exempting full quarantine for ministers returning from official duties overseas was signed by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba. — Bernama file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — Ministers returning from official duties overseas are now exempted from Section 15 the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) from tomorrow onwards, a check on the e-Federal Gazette showed.
The gazettement of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Exemption) Order 2021 is dated February 2, but takes retrospective effect from February 9, tomorrow until August 1 which spans the entirety of the state of emergency.
“The Cabinet of Ministers who returns from any overseas official visit shall undergo observation for three days or undergo surveillance until be discharged without danger to the public,” the condition of exemption reads.
Section 15 of Act 342 pertains to observation or surveillance of contacts and that an authorized officer may order any contact to undergo observation in such place and for such period as he may think fit, or to undergo surveillance until he may be discharged without danger to the public.
The gazette was signed by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
The health minister is empowered under Section 29 of Act 342 to exempt any person, article, vehicle, human remains or tissues, animals and any pathogenic substances from the operation of any of the Act’s provisions or any regulations made under the Act.
“Subject to paragraph 3, the Minister exempts the Cabinet of Ministers who returns from any overseas official visit from the application of section 15 of the Act,” the exemption order stated.
Currently, Malaysian returnees are required to undergo a 10-day mandatory quarantine at home even if they test negative for Covid-19 upon arrival.
Last year, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali came under fire when it was revealed that he had not undergone the mandatory home quarantine as required at the time.
Khairuddin had travelled to Turkey on July 3 with the prime minister’s permission, and had tested negative for Covid-19 on his return.
In the wake of public criticism, the Health Ministry said an enforcement officer had issued a compound of RM1,000 to Khairuddin on August 7 over the failure to comply with rules under the 1988 law or Act 342, while also confirming that Khairuddin had paid the compound.
Two months later, the Attorney General Chambers (AGC) said Khairuddin had not been charged with breaching quarantine rules because of a lack of sufficient evidence.
The AGC said no home surveillance or observation order had been issued by an authorised officer to the minister as required under Section 15 of the act.
The gazettement of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Exemption) Order 2021 is dated February 2, but takes retrospective effect from February 9, tomorrow until August 1 which spans the entirety of the state of emergency.
“The Cabinet of Ministers who returns from any overseas official visit shall undergo observation for three days or undergo surveillance until be discharged without danger to the public,” the condition of exemption reads.
Section 15 of Act 342 pertains to observation or surveillance of contacts and that an authorized officer may order any contact to undergo observation in such place and for such period as he may think fit, or to undergo surveillance until he may be discharged without danger to the public.
The gazette was signed by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
The health minister is empowered under Section 29 of Act 342 to exempt any person, article, vehicle, human remains or tissues, animals and any pathogenic substances from the operation of any of the Act’s provisions or any regulations made under the Act.
“Subject to paragraph 3, the Minister exempts the Cabinet of Ministers who returns from any overseas official visit from the application of section 15 of the Act,” the exemption order stated.
Currently, Malaysian returnees are required to undergo a 10-day mandatory quarantine at home even if they test negative for Covid-19 upon arrival.
Last year, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali came under fire when it was revealed that he had not undergone the mandatory home quarantine as required at the time.
Khairuddin had travelled to Turkey on July 3 with the prime minister’s permission, and had tested negative for Covid-19 on his return.
In the wake of public criticism, the Health Ministry said an enforcement officer had issued a compound of RM1,000 to Khairuddin on August 7 over the failure to comply with rules under the 1988 law or Act 342, while also confirming that Khairuddin had paid the compound.
Two months later, the Attorney General Chambers (AGC) said Khairuddin had not been charged with breaching quarantine rules because of a lack of sufficient evidence.
The AGC said no home surveillance or observation order had been issued by an authorised officer to the minister as required under Section 15 of the act.
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kt notes:
It would be risible if not for the consequential danger to public health safety. The Muhyiddin cabinet in particular Menteri Air Suam thinks the pandemic virus recognises and respects Malaysian VVIP. What public health vandals!
It also confirms what we knew all along, that previously PAS Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali got away from being chucked out as a minister because he violated quarantine rules - Muhyiddin could NOT just afford losing even an iota of his precarious slim majority. And it's telling that the AGC saw fit to excuse Khairuddin from being charged because of a "lack of sufficient evidence."
'Nuff said as we know, having already amply experienced, the insensibility, illogic, double standards and incredible stupidity of ministerial bizarre and moronic policies. Mafulat!
Obedient Civil Servant TAN SRI DR Noor Hashim bagaimana? Have you become a useless, even dangerous tool of politicians>
ReplyDeleteDo you agree with this exemption for VIPs? If not, please speak up. Don't be Boh Lam Phar. Lives are at stake.
When you became a doctor you took the hippocratic oath to "help the ill and not do harm". When you received the Tan Sri title did you take a hypocritic oath?
Ha ha ha...from hippocratic oath to hypocritic oath.
As KT would say....PODAH.
This is another example of the sheer stupidity of the PN government in "managing" the country.
ReplyDeleteMalaysian politics as everybody knows, is that of convenience and profit to oneself.
What disgusts me most is that all action is supposed to be for race and religion and allah is invoked all the time.
The hypocrisy is astounding!
The CURRENT AG is a politicised operative.
ReplyDeleteFrom Menteri Air Suam now add Menteri Tak Payah Quarantin.
ReplyDeletewow, like that oso can.
ReplyDeleteThe bolihland ministerial politikus r the class of their own?
ReplyDeleteThey have super immunity system that no other living things on earth processed!
Hence, that special privilege for them to experience the power of SARS-CoV-2.
They deserve that 'previlige' 101%.