‘No further action’ against minister violating quarantine

Kalidevi Mogan Kumarappa Kalidevi Mogan Kumarappa Updated 3 years ago · Published on 21 Oct 2020 2:32PM · 10 Comments

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali will face no further action from the authorities for breaching quarantine restrictions earlier this year. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 21, 2020.

THE Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has decided there will be no further action against Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali for violating a quarantine order in July.

Federal CID director Huzir Mohamed said the decision was made after it was discovered that Khairuddin was not issued with the quarantine order form 14B under Section 15(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

Huzir said police were notified of the decision after the investigation papers were sent to the AGC for further instructions.

“Following instructions from the AGC, there will now be no further action against the minister,” the CID director told reporters at federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman today.

Khairuddin, the MP for Kuala Nerus, was fined RM1,000 for breaching quarantine after returning from Turkey in July.

He was back in Parliament on July 13 but, in between, he had also attended events and visited other places in the country.

He insisted he did nothing wrong by failing to observe the mandatory 14-day quarantine and described the matter as a procedural error.

Under the National Security Council’s standard operating procedures (SOPs), all returnees are tested on arrival and those with negative results must then serve out their 14-day quarantine, while those who test positive are sent to a hospital.

A breach of this order is punishable under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 by up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.

After his case came to light, Khairuddin apologised for breaching the SOP and pledged to return his salaries as a minister from May to August, and contribute the amount to the National Disaster Relief Fund (Covid-19 Fund).

He said it was his responsibility as a minister to comply with the regulations and SOPs, throughout the recovery movement control order.

“To express the sense of responsibility, I would like to return my salary as a minister for the months of May until August 2020 to the Covid-19 fund under the Health Ministry,” Khairuddin said.

Following the public outcry about his behaviour, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Khairuddin was fined RM1,000.

Police also began a separate investigation, with Ismail Sabri’s comments adding fuel to the fire that the government was practising double standards, given that many ordinary Malaysians were charged, convicted and sentenced to heavy fines and even jailed for violating the SOPs.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said there will be no double standards between politicians and ordinary Malaysians when it comes to quarantine procedures.

Muhyiddin said everyone should adhere to the quarantine procedures set by the Health Ministry, adding that ministers will be reprimanded if they flout quarantine laws and he himself is no exception. – October 21, 2020.

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Comments

  • Just wonder how we going to implement hudud like this....

    Posted 3 years ago by YUSHRI ZAINUDIN · Reply

    • If steal milk, cut hand. If steal rm billions, u get to keep half n wrist slap.

      Posted 3 years ago by Sting like A butterfly · Reply

  • So there is no need for compulsory quaranteen for anyone?

    Posted 3 years ago by Alphonz Jayaratnam · Reply

  • Not shocked at this decision at all. What else can we expect the AGC to do? After Musa Aman was cleared of all charges, everything is now possible

    Posted 3 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply

  • Yup...no double standards there. So happy for him.

    Posted 3 years ago by Sting like A butterfly · Reply

  • Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said there will be no double standards between politicians and ordinary Malaysians when it comes to quarantine procedures.

    Muhyiddin said everyone should adhere to the quarantine procedures set by the Health Ministry, adding that ministers will be reprimanded if they flout quarantine laws and he himself is no exception.

    My foot

    Posted 3 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • A man returns from Sabah. Doesnt quarantine himself. He gets jailed. Just saying.

    Posted 3 years ago by Sameon says... · Reply

  • Disgracefull ending to the saga.

    Posted 3 years ago by Abdul Rashid · Reply

  • Notice how the AG has quietly disappeared into his wormhole?
    The Harun Brothers - the circus act currently playing.
    Watch how they magically make logic, honesty and truth vanish into thin air.
    And voila, with a wave of their magic wand, we have double standards, lies and a bunch of monkeys masquerading as leaders.
    Truly a magic show!

    Posted 3 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Now the rakyat knows that Form 14b was not handed over to him . It took the authorities a bit of time to find a simple excuse as that. Thhe 46 court cases of Musa Aman who was acquited was probably of such Form which was misplaced. Bravo. The most competent AG ever and his brother the fairest Speaker the country ever had. JKM must now refund RM1000 fine to the Minsiter as it is unfair to penalize an innocent god-fearing man.

    Posted 3 years ago by Anwar Ismail · Reply