NEWLY elected Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Mohd Noor has been warded at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu after testing positive for Covid-19.

“The chief minister decided to self-quarantine after he was informed one of his staff members had tested positive for the virus.

“During this self-quarantine period, Hajiji took another test and is confirmed positive for Covid-19,” said the chief minister’s press secretary Effendi Mohamed Sunoh in a statement late last night.

He said Hajiji’s condition was stable and that he is carrying out his duties via telephone calls and videoconferencing.

“The Sabah government is functioning as usual,” said Effendi.

Meanwhile, The Malaysian Insight learnt that Hajiji’s wife Juliah Salaq has also tested positive for Covid-19.

According to three separate sources, both Hajiji and his wife are warded in a single room at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The source said that while Hajiji’s condition is regarded as stable, the chief minister’s vital signs were being checked every four hours. 

“But he’s shown good progress and is in no danger,” said the source.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in one of the seven hospitals designated as Covid-19 hospitals in Malaysia. Sources also said the hospital is currently treating some 400 Covid-19 patients.

Yesterday, 274 new Covid-19 infections and six deaths were reported in Sabah.

The Sabah Bersatu chief and Sulaman rep was sworn in as Sabah’s 16th chief minister on September 29 following Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s victory over Warisan Plus in the state elections.

Hajiji is the latest politician to test positive for Covid-19 following confirmation that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Zulkifili Mohamad al-Bakri had contracted the virus.

Zulkifli is currently being treated at the Covid-19-designated Sg Buloh Hospital.

Following Zulkifli’s confirmation, more than half the cabinet, including Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, have announced they would be undergoing home quarantine for 14 days.

More than half a dozen politicians have tested positive for the virus following the two-week state election campaign in Sabah from September 12 to 26. – October 9, 2020.