THE Health Ministry will soon confirm if a federal minister has tested positive for Covid-19, a minister’s aide said.

“I apologise for the delay. The Health Ministry will issue a statement soon,” the aide to a minister suspected of contracting the virus told reporters about 3pm today.

The aide was responding to numerous queries on whether his boss had tested positive for the coronavirus.

He did not confirm or deny if the minister has tested positive.

Talk had first surfaced on social media over whether a member of cabinet has tested positive for Covid-19.

The minister under speculation had attended a public event in Shah Alam yesterday, and is also said to have met Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin recently.

Speculation was strengthen by a news portal’s report that several functions today have been cancelled so that all ministers can get tested immediately.

Quoting sources, Malaysia Gazette reported that all the ministers were instructed to undergo Covid-19 screening following speculation that one of them tested positive. 

The Malaysian Insight was also told by government sources that all cabinet members were today instructed to take a Covid-19 swab test as soon as they could.

Coincidentally, both the Health Ministry and Senior Minister (Defence) Ismail Sabri Yaakob have cancelled their scheduled press conferences today, with no reasons given.

Several Perikatan Nasional politicians have tested positive for Covid-19 after contracting the virus during campaigning for the Sabah elections recently. 

Among them are Deputy Environment and Water Minister Ahmad Masrizal Mohamad, Kedah state exco Azman Nasruddin, Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan and Umno Supreme Council member Razlan Rafii. 

Former Umno president and prime minister Najib Razak also had his trial today postponed as he is undergoing home quarantine after campaigning in Sabah.

Meanwhile, journalists’ group Merdeka Media Movement (Geramm) in a statement urged ministers to act responsibly by informing the media and the public on their health status.

“If there are doubts, an immediate explanation should be given so that preventive measures can be taken by any media practitioner on duty as a close contact of the individual.

“Any politician who has returned from Sabah and is undergoing quarantine is urged to provide an update on their health status, whether Covid-19 negative or positive.

“Notification of their health status on social media helps reporters and the public who have interacted with them,” Geramm said. – October 5, 2020.