Minister attended dozen programmes after Turkey trip, possible cluster - Teresa
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok claimed that minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali had attended at least 12 programmes and meetings, exposing himself to thousands of people three days after he returned from Turkey on July 7.
Kok said in a statement that based on the plantation, industries, and commodities minister's Facebook page, he attended a programme at Duyong Marina Resort in Terengganu on July 10.
From July 10 to July 21, Khairuddin was said to have attended a dozen programs and meetings.
The locations of the events include Parliament (July 13, 14, and 16), Jasin (July 15), the Prime Minister's Department (July 18), Kuala Nerus (July 18), Setiu (July 18), Pantai Penarak, Terengganu (July 18), and Pulau Duyong (July 19).
"If he was infected by Covid-19 from the Turkey trip, it's possible that he had spread the coronavirus to thousands of people and caused the 'Khairuddin Takiri' cluster in Malaysia.
Kok was referring to the minister's name on Facebook - "Ust Dr. Khairuddin at-Takiri".
"I was made to learn that the minister's trip to Turkey was accompanied by his family and government officers. Did they undergo the 14-day quarantine based on the SOP?" Kok asked.
Khairuddin, who is Kuala Nerus MP, was accused of flouting the 14-day quarantine which those who enter the country have to abide by.
Previously, he confirmed with the media that he had taken a Covid-19 test upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) after his trip to Turkey and that he had attended the Dewan Rakyat sitting on July 13.
For the record, at the time of Khairuddin's visit from July 3 to 7, more than 5,600 new Covid-19 cases and 93 deaths were reported in Turkey.
Turkey has had more than 250,000 Covid-19 cases and 6,061 fatalities from the disease in total.
A source close to the minister was reported as saying Khairuddin (photo) tested negative for Covid-19 upon his return, and that Turkey was a “green” country at the time.
Yesterday, Khairuddin responded to the allegations against him by saying that the Ministry of Health (MOH) would issue a statement.
"Just wait for the statement, including the official results of the MOH Covid-19 test.
"As a responsible cabinet minister, I will abide by any statement issued by the MOH," he said.
Kok said the government must show that it is not biased in terms of enforcement when many people faced actions by the authorities for not wearing face masks or flouting the quarantine rules.
Meanwhile, commenting on Khairuddin's statement, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said on Facebook, "Notice how, from the reopening of salons to drinking warm water and now to this - PN Ministers waiting for Health DG and MOH frontliners to clean up their mess. Brilliant."
