DEPUTY Federal Territories Minister Edmund Santhara has returned home last week after an extended leave in New Zealand, his officer confirmed. 

“Yes. He returned last week. He is under home quarantine until March 29 and during this period, he will be doing his duty online. 

“After that (quarantine), he will have all his physical meetings,” Santhara’s private secretary Muhammad Effi Arpan told The Malaysian Insight when contacted today. 

Whistle-blower website Sarawak Report reported that Edmund has been in Auckland since December.

It said while in New Zealand, Sanathara drew his salary as Segamat MP, while his staff were carrying out work in his constituency.

Former prime minister Najib Razak and Batu MP P. Prabakaran had questioned Santhara’s whereabouts.

Santhara then responded that he was granted 55 days’ leave, including unpaid leave, to visit his family in New Zealand.

He said he applied for leave through Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa on December 3 and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin approved it on December 18. 

Santhara extended absence was widely criticised as his constituency was went through floods in December and Covid-19 travel restrictions meant that many Malaysians were unable to visit relatives. – March 24, 2021.