Sin Chew Daily

Minister of plantation industries and commodities Mohamad Khairuddin Aman was said to have returned from Turkey without going through the 14-day mandatory quarantine. He even attended several public events, including a visit to the Parliament House, and was not wearing any quarantine wristband.

Such an attitude has triggered widespread public outcry. Many are questioning whether the government is practicing double standards when it comes to enforcing the SOPs during the movement control order.

According to health ministry SOPs, all individuals entering the country from abroad must undergo COVID-19 tests upon their arrival, and be placed under 14-day quarantine orders even if they test negative for the virus.

The SOPs do not specify that any person can be exempted from this requirement.

We have no idea whether Khairuddin blatantly violated the law as he should be aware of the SOPs, or simply because cabinet ministers enjoy the impunity!

Khairuddin initially kept mum about all media queries while those around him defended him by saying he tested negative and Turkey was still a green zone country during his visit.

Khairuddin later claimed that he was a responsible minister and was willing to accept any punishment from the health ministry.

Obviously, he did not feel that violating SOPs was a serious matter. He didn't even offer a public apology or refrain from attending public events after the issue triggered public wrath and after a police report was lodged by the opposition.

Responses from his cabinet colleagues have been equally unacceptable. Defense ministry senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he could not comment as he was not aware of this thing, while the national security council also declined to comment.

Ismail Sabri has been appearing on TV every day to remind Malaysians to comply with the government SOPs. By right he should warn all Malaysians not to flout the law, including cabinet minsters, as no one is above the law!

Ismail Sabri's claim that he was not aware of this matter is simply unconvincing and will only erode the public's confidence in the PN government.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says the health ministry has opened a file to investigate Khairuddin. It is hoped that the ministry will give the public a decent answer, or else it will convey a wrong message to the people that violating SOPs is not a big deal after all.

Thanks to the government's strict MCO enforcement and close cooperation from the public, we have been able to flatten the curve of the coronavirus outbreak in this country and the situation is largely under control now.

Whether the RMCO will be ended or extended after August 31 will very much depend on whether we all follow the SOPs.

Unfortunately the good news that came during the RMCO was shortlived as there are now several infection clusters in the northern region just because a handful of irresponsible people roamed about freely during quarantine, including the Sivagangga cluster index case who first tested negative and was placed on a quarantine order but opted to violate the quarantine SOPs and sparked a new infection cluster.

Despite repeated pleas from health director-general Dr Noor Hisham, many have opted to ignore the SOPs, including our minister. It will be unfair to Malaysians who faithfully abide by the SOPs if minister Khairuddin is spared from any punishment. It will also be an irony for the government which has won international praises for its unrelenting efforts in fighting the virus.