Malaysia’s General Director for Health, Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministers will only watch three-day quarantine upon returning from official overseas travel if they meet certain conditions – including using private jets instead of commercial flights.
Dr. Noor Hisham said this in one Media conference on Tuesday (February 9), listing the conditions ministers had to meet to qualify for the three-day quarantine rule.
“They must file an application with the Cabinet before they leave. Once approved, the official business and standard operating procedures listed on their schedule will be reviewed and a risk assessment will be carried out,” he said.
Dr. Noor Hisham also stated that ministers taking commercial flights would automatically not be eligible for the three-day quarantine regime.
This particular condition has sparked a backlash among internet users on social media, many of whom have posted comments Facebook that the government’s move is such a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Some others also suggested that the official meetings could be held virtually instead, as it is safer and cheaper. One user described the government’s move as an “excuse” for their ministers’ use of private jets.
In the meantime, the former Minister of Education, Dr. Maszlee Malik his Twitter express his dissatisfaction.
In his tweet, he said that too much “privilege” was given to ministers, from the three-day quarantine rule to using private jets at the expense of taxpayers’ money.
We are sorry.
It all started with the 3 days.
Today private jets.
Morning?
What a privilege … at the taxpayer’s expense … https://t.co/BWr9GdvVWl
– Maszlee Malik @ (@maszlee) February 10, 2021
