LANGKAWI – Kedah executive councillor Azman Nasrudin and state speaker Datuk Juhari Bulat are among dozens ordered to observe quarantine orders after an aide who tested positive for Covid-19 was at an event here.
One of the attendees was Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Zuraida Kamaruddin.
More than 60 people, including politicians and travel trade leaders, have been told to undergo swab tests and observe a 14-day quarantine period starting from Monday.
Travel trade leaders Prof Anthony Wong Kim Fei, Datuk Issac Alexander and former Tourism Malaysia senior officer Rusdi Kassim were also at the event that included single mothers from Baling and Alor Setar. All were ordered to stay isolated.
The initial carrier was Azman’s personal officer. Later, it is believed that Azman himself tested positive for Covid-19.
The officer had tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from Sabah where he was campaigning in the state election, it is understood.
The officer could be a super spreader as he had a hectic schedule upon returning from Sabah where he posted several of his activities on social media.
The event in Langkawi held last Sunday was launched by Zuraida where 52 single mothers and several media practitioners were participating in an organic farming workshop at a resort in Pantai Tengah.
All participants have since been asked to undergo swab tests too.
Zuraida is believed to have taken her own precautions after her swab test in Sabah came back negative. A day after the event in Langkawi, she was at Port Klang for another event.
Attempts have been made to contact Zuraida but she could not be reached.
One of her officers said Zuraida has taken precautions and in isolation after her event at Port Klang on Monday.
This came after repeated reminders by Langkawi MP and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for residents here to be vigilant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Dr Mahathir had told The Vibes that he was worried that in an event of an election, more people would be infected.
Meanwhile, Juhari had earlier recommended that visitors from Langkawi be kept away until the health authorities can curb the pandemic on the mainland since the island was relatively free of Covid-19, except for six imported cases.
And today, Juhari is still in isolation at home in Ayer Hangat.
Juhari, who is also Ayer Hangat assemblyman, said he had undergone a screening test at the Kuah health clinic.
“My test came back negative but I need to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
“I was made to understand that there were individuals who attended the event, after returning from Sabah and there was one Covid-19 case, so I was asked to undergo quarantine at home for 14 days after the screening.
“Many who were at the Sunday event were also instructed to undergo screening tests.”
Those affected have to wait it out between five and 14 days while the outcome of their tests can only be known within the next few hours to five days.
Kedah executive councillor Datuk Mohd Hayati Othman said the state health authorities will issue a statement on this matter.
Meanwhile, Wong, who is under quarantine with his two daughters, said the health inspectors had been strict and the Langkawi resort is off limits pending the end of the incubation period.
It is most unfortunate as the resort just reopened after months of inactivity due to the movement control order, he added. – The Vibes. September 30, 2020
