IGP: Investigation paper on quarantine-breaching minister to be passed to AG on Sept 10

KUALA LUMPUR: The investigation paper on Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali over his breach of the mandatory 14-day quarantine when he returned from Turkey recently will be passed to the Attorney General (AG) on Thursday (Sept 10), says the nation’s top cop.

“The statement from the last witness was already recorded on Tuesday (Sept 8). Perhaps by tomorrow, the investigation papers will be passed for them to go through all the evidence and statements, and for the decision on the next step.

“We called more than 10 people for their statements, ” said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador after overseeing several handing over of power ceremonies at the Royal Malaysia Police college here Wednesday (Sept 9).

Khairuddin’s violation of the mandatory 14-day quarantine came to light when it was raised in the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 18 by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

He had returned from what he described as a “semi-working” to that country, which included members of his family, on July 7.

After the issue was brought to light, the Health Ministry said it had slapped Khairuddin with a RM1,000 fine for breaching the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1998 (Act 342) on Aug 7.

Khairuddin said he would forgo his salary from May to August as an act of remorse for violating the 14-day quarantine ruling.

In a statement, where he apologised to all Malaysians, he said he would donate the money to the national Covid-19 fund under the Health Ministry.

However, many Malaysians still insist he should resign, noting that members of the public found guilty of the same breach were jailed and slapped with heftier fines.