Deputy FT Minister Edmund Santhara back in Malaysia, observing home quarantine

PETALING JAYA: Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Edmund Santhara Kumar says he returned to Malaysia last week and is currently undergoing a 10-day quarantine.

The Segamat MP said this in a WhatsApp message to The Star but attempts to speak to him for further details were unsuccessful.

Edmund's private secretary Muhammad Effi Arpan confirmed that he returned last week and was working from home.

"He will only attend physical meetings after he has completed quarantine," Effi said.

On March 1, Edmund said in a statement that his trip to New Zealand was approved by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and that he had complied with the required procedures to apply for permission to leave the country.

Edmund, who is Segamat MP, said he had applied for 55-day leave through the Federal Territories Minister to obtain the Prime Minister's approval in a letter dated Dec 3,2020.

The application was supported by the FT Minister on Dec 10 and approved by the Prime Minister on Dec 18.

Edmund said he also complied with Immigration Department procedure to apply for permission to leave the country by applying for the MyTravelPass online, adding that he submitted his application on Oct 30 and received approval on Nov 2.

Edmund said he left Malaysia on Dec 23 after attending a meeting and underwent quarantine in New Zealand from Dec 24,2020 to Jan 9,2021.

Edmund said his purpose for leaving the country was to visit his family in New Zealand, whom he had not seen for almost a year.