AG in quarantine for Raya

Idrus tests negative but will be at home for two weeks

Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun will be among members of the government who will be spending Hari Raya Aidilfitri in quarantine.

He is among bigwigs who came into contact with an official who tested positive for Covid-19 during the post-Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Idrus said his test result came back negative but confirmed he had been placed under quarantine.

“Yes, it was negative Covid-19 but I’m under home quarantine for two weeks,” he said yesterday.

Also undergoing home quarantine are Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali and Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri

Azam Baki.

Meanwhile, the National Audit Department (NAD) confirmed the authenticity of an internal memo issued by Auditor-General Datuk Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid that went viral, in which he stated that he had tested positive for Covid-19.

“Please be informed that I tested positive for Covid-19 today (Thursday), and will be quarantined in the hospital,” Nik Azman said in a memo to the department’s deputy auditors-general and the management sector director on Thursday.

Nik Azman also stated that the deputy auditor-general (performance) would be filling in during his absence.

NAD said in a statement yesterday that all close contacts had been notified on Friday for appropriate action to be taken.

“The affected building, Block F2 of Complex F in Precinct 1, Putrajaya, has been sanitised and disinfected yesterday,” said the department.

It is understood that Mohd Zuki too had undergone a swab test, which came back negative for Covid-19.

On Friday, Azam Baki confirmed that he was among those who had attended the meeting.

“I have taken the swab test and am still waiting for the result.

“As per standard operating procedure, I will undergo the 14-day self-quarantine at home,” said Azam.

Meanwhile, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said all those who attended the meeting had to be isolated even though they tested negative.

“We have advised them, and hopefully all 35 members will self-quarantine at home for 14 days.

“On the 13th day, we will repeat the swab test, and if it’s negative, they can return to work,” he said during his daily Covid-19 briefing.

Dr Noor Hisham said they would also test the family members of the officer for the disease.

He added that the officer had symptoms when he attended the meeting, but he had been wearing a mask.

“By wearing the mask, he reduced the chances of the virus spreading to others,” he said.