KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 22): Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali (pictured) has been issued a compound for RM1,000 by the Ministry of Health.
In a statement today, the MoH said Khairuddin had committed an offence under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (No. 7) Regulations 2020 and the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).
However, the MoH did not specify what offence the minister had committed.
According to the MoH, Khairuddin returned from Turkey on July 7, and that a nasopharyngeal swab sample to screen for Covid-19 was taken from him on the same day, which turned out negative.
It said the results similarly turned out negative in the second and third screenings, though it did not say when these subsequent screenings were conducted.
"Due to the fact that Khairuddin had failed to comply with the rules of Act 342, Pegawai Diberi Kuasa (an authorised officer) has issued a compound of RM1,000 to Khairuddin on Aug 7, 2020, and he (the minister) has paid the compound," the MoH said.
According to news reports, Khairuddin has been lambasted by the opposition recently for not observing the mandatory 14-day quarantine after his return from Turkey.
On Aug 18, Harian Metro reported that Khairuddin had travelled to Turkey on July 3 on the prime minister’s permission, and that the country was categorised as a green zone.
Citing a source, the publication wrote that Khairuddin had tested negative for the coronavirus upon his return on July 7.