PUTRAJAYA should introduce free or subsidised Covid-19 self-testing kits for Malaysians to help detect and reduce the spread of the coronavirus, said Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.

The former deputy education minister said the price for a home test kit should not be more than RM15, while free kits can be provided to the B40 and other, poorer, groups.

“A proven home self-test kit is now available using saliva and this could be a good option to introduce at an affordable price.

“The government should control the price and allow Malaysians to do home tests. This way positive cases can self-quarantine and later get admitted to hospital if they are serious,” she said in a statement.

Teo said it looks like an uphill task to bring the number of cases to below 4,000 despite the imposition of the full movement-control order.

Malaysia yesterday recorded 135 new Covid-19 deaths – a record for daily fatalities – and reported 8,868 positive cases. 

She said the current method of screening will need to be reviewed and a self-testing method must be introduced to help the situation.

“The current MySejahtera app can be used for reporting positive cases. The spread of the virus can be significantly reduced.”

Teo said that, currently, health officials are using RT-PCR, rapid antigen and antibody kits for the testing.

“These tests can only be done by healthcare practitioners or laboratories. The cost of these tests is very high, ranging from RM70 to RM400.

“Many Malaysians are suffering economically due to the pandemic, not all can afford the tests.

“The healthcare professionals, labs and hospitals are making huge profits from the tests alone.”

She added that mass screenings would help to identify positive cases so immediate action could be taken to prevent widespread infection.

“Many are either going about with or without symptoms because they are not tested and this is mainly due to cost.

“They may infect many before they are identified as being positive for Covid-19.”

Teo also said the enhanced MCO is not an answer as it will cripple the economy. 

“The government should explore this option and make the test kits available soon.”

On July 1, Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said several sub-districts and localities in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur would be placed under the enhanced MCO.

Ismail said the EMCO was decided upon based on risk assessments, which showed that these areas had high infection rates. – July 9, 2021.