UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has cast his doubts over the validity of the daily Covid-19 case reports released by the Ministry of Health.

Zahid said he wondered about the truth and validity of the figures, and questioned the source of the data.

“The daily Covid-19 cases are currently climbing like a rocket through space,” he said in a Facebook post.

“Is the data true and who verifies them? True or false? Not because of anything, but the public is concerned seeing the daily figures rising suddenly.

“We are only on the sixth day of Ramadan. Do not associate the spike with Ramadan bazaars or the tarawih prayers.”

Malaysia has recorded more than 2,000 daily cases for the past four days.

The number of cases has been on a four-digit scale even though the government had imposed a movement control order (MCO) in January 12 and a health emergency to fight the pandemic.

At present, most of the states are under conditional MCO, with inter-state travel remaining suspended.

However, the government has allowed most economic sectors to operate, including Ramadan bazaars, and has allowed various forms of social and sports activities.

Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk MP, also asked if there would be any actions taken to reduce the number of Covid-19 cases.

“Will the cases be allowed to rise until 5,000 or 6,000 daily? Or is it that there are no cases, but they are reporting high numbers just to annoy the public? I’m just asking, not accusing,” he said.

“If it (daily Covid-19 cases) is true, then the government should take immediate action to lower the figure, but if it is not true, then such action is regrettable and sinful.”

Zahid also said the government could be showing a high number of cases in order to extend the emergency, which is supposed to end on Aug 1.

The emergency was called on January 11 by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, ostensibly to fight the Covid-19 pandemic when new daily cases exceeded 2,000 then, peaking at over 5,000.

The King consented to the emergency after granting an audience to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who carried the proposal from the cabinet.

Zahid and Umno, although at present part of the Perikatan Nasional government, have called for the emergency to be ended, and for Parliament to be called in session.

Besides this, Zahid also expressed his doubts over the sudden rise in coronavirus cases in Sarawak, saying it was very odd.

He said if such high cases continue to be reported in the state, then most likely, permission to cross borders for the upcoming Hari Raya would not be granted.

“Maybe cross-state and permission to return home for Hari Raya would not be given to those in Sarawak.

“I pity those teachers in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said, adding that the bonus for public servants for the upcoming Hari Raya has yet to be announced.

The former deputy prime minister is facing 47 charges involving millions of ringgit belonging to his charity arm, Akalbudi Foundation. The charges comprise 27 for money laundering, eight for corruption and 12 for criminal breach of trust.

The prosecution closed its case last month after calling in 99 witnesses, with the Kuala Lumpur High Court setting June 28 to hear oral submissions from the prosecution and defence.

The trial began on Nov 18, 2019. – April 19, 2021.