Bukit Aman: No further action against minister over quarantine breach

The investigation into Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali’s alleged breach of quarantine orders has been classified as no further action (NFA) by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), said Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Huzir Mohamed.

In a press conference today, Huzir explained that this was because Khairuddin was not issued a home surveillance order (Form 14b) under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342).

“In the investigation paper that has been referred to the attorney general, the instructions for this case are ‘NFA’.

“NFA on the grounds and statement that the minister was not issued a Form 14B under Section 15(1) of Act 342 to undergo home quarantine.

Khairuddin visited Turkey between July 3 and 7, but was already back in Parliament on July 13.

On August 13, Khairuddin’s predecessor, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, pointed out that the minister was already back in Parliament on July 13 despite only returning to Malaysia six days prior.

As a result, Mohd Khairuddin, who is also a PAS central committee member, was heavily criticised by many parties for failing to comply with the SOPs set by the authorities, in particular defying the quarantine instructions for returning Malaysians from abroad.

Subsequently, the Health Ministry said that it had issued a compound of RM1,000 to Mohd Khairuddin on August 7 for breaching the regulations. Mohd Khairuddin has settled the compound.

Despite being fined RM1,000 over the incident, Khairuddin insisted he did nothing wrong by failing to observe the mandatory 14-day quarantine and described the matter as a procedural error.

Under the National Security Council’s SOP, all returnees are tested on arrival and those with negative results must then serve out their 14-day quarantine while those testing positive are sent to a hospital for further treatment.

A breach of this order is punishable under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 by up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction. —  Malay Mail

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