KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Edmund Santhara Kumar has finally returned to Malaysia after his controversial and lengthy leave in New Zealand.
Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa confirmed this to The Vibes in a text message today.
Annuar said his deputy is currently undergoing mandatory home quarantine following his return from the Pacific nation, and is temporarily carrying out his official duties from home.
“He will be on home quarantine until March 29.”
However, it cannot be ascertained when Santhara arrived in Malaysia.
The Segamat MP left Malaysia for New Zealand on December 23 to visit his sick wife and their children, who are studying there.
He was granted a 55-day leave by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Annuar, which officially started on December 28 and ended on March 20.
Monday should have been his first day back at work.
However, attempts to contact Santhara in his office failed since Monday.
Yesterday, a ministry office staffer told The Vibes that the deputy minister has yet to resume official duties and that she had no information on his whereabouts.
She added that there are no ministry programmes involving Santhara slotted for the coming weeks at the moment.
The Vibes had also attempted to contact his constituency’s office in Segamat but was unsuccessful, while an email sent out to Santhara yesterday morning did not receive a response.
The issue surrounding Santhara’s whereabouts first surfaced last month, after it was revealed by whistle-blower site Sarawak Report that the deputy minister was not in Malaysia, having left for New Zealand to meet his family in December.
In a March 1 statement, Santhara said his 55-day leave had been approved and that he had adhered to all immigration regulations for the trip.
Since the issue came to light, several quarters have questioned if Santhara has permanent residency in New Zealand, considering his extended stay.
The Vibes previously reported that Santhara and his wife had applied for PR status in New Zealand about a decade ago, but “a change in circumstances” led them to abandon their intentions. – The Vibes, March 24, 2021
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