DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has questioned whether Plantation, Industries, and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali is fit for his role in the cabinet after he violated quarantine rules.

Lim also took the minister to task for refusing to own up to his wrongdoing.

“Not only did Khairuddin refused to own up to his wrongdoing but, his response that he will leave it to the Health Ministry smacked of arrogance and irresponsibility,” the Bagan MP said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Khairuddin further defended himself by saying that the fact he was allowed entry into the royal palace on August 17 proved that he had tested negative for Covid-19,” he added.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok alleged Khairuddin had attended at least 12 programmes and meetings after he returned from Turkey on July 8.

Lim compared the situation with that of the former Irish Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary, who resigned two days after attending a dinner by the Irish parliamentary golf society where Covid-19 safety protocols were ignored.

“In contrast to Ireland where a minister resigned two days after breaching Covid-19 safety protocols, Khairuddin’s arrogance and refusal to admit he was wrong after more than six weeks is unacceptable and not in the public interest,” he said.

This is no longer a question about punishing Khairuddin for his wrongdoing, but also about whether he is fit and proper to be a Minister in His Majesty’s government,” he added.

Lim pointed out that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has led by example, going into a self-quarantine after one of the palace staff tested positive for Covid-19 in March.

“If the king can comply with Covid-19 safety protocols despite enjoying legal immunity, why not Khairuddin? Or does Khairuddin enjoy a special status?” he said.

The former finance minister said the issue is not about Khairuddin testing negative, but the double standards in the enforcement the law.

“Khairuddin still refuses to see that him testing negative is not the issue. If he had tested positive, he would be in hospital and the matter would have ended there,” he said.

“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 rule of law, where ministers get off scot-free, while ordinary folk are punished with arrest, handcuffed and fines,” he added.

Meanwhile, director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham told The Malaysian Insight the ministry was investigating the matter.

Khairuddin is accused of not observing the mandatory 14-day quarantine after he had returned from Turkey last month, as stipulated by the National Security Council. Those returning from overseas are tested on arrival for the virus and again two weeks later.

Khairuddin said he was tested three times for Covid-19 since his trip, most recently on August 17. – August 22, 2020.