KUALA LUMPUR – Despite receiving a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should still follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) after his overseas trip, said former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Dr Dzulkefly said there should be no double standards when it comes to observing SOPs as Muhyiddin has yet to be inoculated with a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
He added that even if Muhyiddin has been given two doses, the prime minister still risked contracting the virus.
“It only provides 100% protection against getting severe Covid-19 (avoiding ICU admission) and 95% protection against symptomatic Covid-19 after the second dose,” Dzulkefly told The Vibes in a text message yesterday evening.
“This is the reason why, even after you are vaccinated, you must still follow SOPs.”
Muhyiddin arrived in Malaysia yesterday after returning from a six-day trip to the Middle East – visiting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where he met with leaders of the two countries.
His return has raised concern that he may have met other individuals outside his travel bubble upon arriving in the country before observing the three-day quarantine, as required by the Health Ministry.
Dr Dzulkefly, who holds a doctorate in toxicology from the Imperial College London, said Muhyiddin must lead by example upon returning to the country.
He said some 330 people have already been slapped with the maximum RM10,000 fine for flouting SOPs, yet the prime minister may be violating the same rules he endorsed.
“We cannot continue to have double standards – one for the VVIPs and another for the rakyat.
“Should not all Malaysians returning from overseas be isolated for 10 days?”
Dr Dzulkefly said this is why the emergency ordinance must be lifted as it will allow Parliament to reconvene and take the prime minister to task.
“The failure of a public health policy is specifically due to poor governance.
“To have good governance, you need to have a strong, trustworthy, respected and honorable leader. But unfortunately and regrettably, Malaysia is ostensibly in dire need of such leaders.” – The Vibes, March 13, 2021
