KUALA LUMPUR – After receiving brickbats over his statement that apartment and condominium management can compel tenants to undergo Covid-19 swab tests or be barred entry, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has clarified that this only applies to foreigners.
In his daily press statement, the senior minister said the National Security Council has never implemented policies requiring residents and visitors to such premises or other residential areas to conduct Covid-19 screening.
“My statement yesterday is only in relation to foreign tenants, and not locals.
“The government will not stop any management of condominiums and other residences from requiring swab tests for foreign tenants to ensure the safety of its residents. It is up to the management to decide.
“Closed apartments and condominiums are private properties, where the management can make its own regulations. In fact, it can come up with a rule banning entry of all visitors, subjected to existing laws.”
In a press conference yesterday, Ismail Sabri said condominium management had the prerogative to introduce more stringent measures to combat the coronavirus, including compelling tenants to undergo Covid-19 tests.
This is after it was reported that several condominiums had made it mandatory for their tenants, especially foreigners, to be tested for the virus.
Various quarters have since criticised the minister, including the Malaysian Institute of Property and Facility Managers, Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia and Valuers, and Malaysia Property Managers, Estate Agents and Property Consultants in the Private Sector Association, who urged property managers and management to not resort to such action.
Several MPs have also taken to Twitter to condemn the minister for taking such a harsh stand on the matter.
PKR’s Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said the policy must be reviewed immediately, as it discriminates against lower income residents, who could not afford the tests.
DAP’s Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said the move will be an inconvenience for tenants, and slammed Ismail Sabri for failing to turn to scientific methods on Covid-19-related policies.
In response, Ismail Sabri tweeted that their statements were misleading, and questioned if they prefer representing foreigners than fellow Malaysians.
“For Fahmi Fadzil and Hannah Yeoh, they are fighters for foreigners. To them, the cost that the foreigners will have to bear is more important than the lives of Malaysians. Maybe they are the people’s representatives for foreigners, not Malaysians.”
The tweet has since been deleted. – The Vibes, January 29, 2021
