Any Notice On Covid 19 Restrictions Will Be From Me Ismail Sabri

---

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today that he would be the one responsible to announce any decisions made on Covid-19 travel restrictions, based on advice from the Health Ministry
On the campaign trail for BN candidates in the Sabah election, Ismail also dismissed as fake news any reports claiming that either himself or the Health Ministry had imposed a mandatory quarantine order for Malaysians traveling back from the state to the peninsula
"That is fake news. No such thing. Supposedly I had said, or the Health Ministry said that those traveling back from Sabah to the peninsula will be quarantined, not true
"Movements from Sabah to the peninsula, Sabah to Sarawak or other places are still free," said the Umno vice-president
He was speaking at a press conference in Libaran after launching Libaran BN's election machinery for N50 Gum Gum, N51 Sungai Manila and N52 Sungai Sibuga
Ismail was asked for comments on Health Minister Dr Adham Baba's reported remarks that the ministry is mulling mandatory quarantine for people returning to the peninsula after the Sabah state elections
Ismail appeared to be unaware of Adham's remarks as reported by Bernama earlier today. He however reassured that any related announcements will only come directly from him
"If there is any announcement, announcement about restrictions, it will be done by me
"I will make the announcements," he stressed
"Even if there was to be another MCO, I will be the one to announce. If there are movement restrictions, I will announce it
"The Health Ministry will make regular assessments on any case, and whatever announcements will be referred to me for me to announce," he said
Ismail added that the Health Ministry's assessments will take into consideration any necessary steps if the current spike of new infections under the Benteng LD cluster in Lahad Datu and Tawau continues to escalate outside the Lahad Datu prison
"If it remains in the prison, there is nothing to worry about... but if it happens outside, we will conduct a thorough study and make the necessary announcements," he said
He also pointed out that, overall, Sabah remains in the green zone, with the exception of the Tawau prison and Lahad Datu police station
"Don't worry. If going back means facing 14 days quarantine, then I will also have to face the 14 days
"If we look at the cases in Tawau, it's only in the prison. It can't be that others coming from other places in Sabah, upon returning, they must be quarantined," he said
The Health Ministry said it has detected 182 new cases in the 24 hours up to noon yesterday, of which 167 were from the Benteng LD cluster
Meanwhile, Bersih in a statement later, said imposing a quarantine on those returning from Sabah would discourage Sabahans in the peninsula from going back home to vote
"The cost of quarantine would be overly burdensome to these Sabahans as this would be on top of the high cost of flying home to vote
"This would also affect politicians, party workers, EC officials and NGO observers who will be travelling to Sabah to be involved in the various aspects of the election
"If compulsory quarantine is required for all without exception, this could have wider implications on the functioning of these institutions and organisations beyond the election," it said
It hoped the government would give the matter careful consideration before making any decisions. - Mkini

---