Local Politicians Came in Contact with Khazanah COVID-19 Patient

By JUICE Malaysia  •  02 Mar 2020 in News

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Malaysia’s handling of the corona virus outbreak has been commended by Japanese Netizens, recovered carriers, and even the World Health Organisation (WHO). But today, news has surfaced that a prominent employee of Khazanah has contracted the virus and since then, been in contact with several MPs including our current PM, Muhyiddin Yassin.

According to The Edge, Hisham Hamdan (pic above), the Executive Director, Head, Public Markets and Head, Research at Khazanah Nasional Berhad is confirmed to be infected with Covid-19. He is reported to be Case 26 (out of 29) in Malaysia.

Hisham travelled to Shanghai in mid-Jan and developed a fever and sore throat on 27 Feb. He has been admitted to the Sungai Buloh Hospital but not before coming in contact with several MPs on 27 Feb.

PKR MP Wong Chen said in post on his Facebook today that “Tests are being conducted on the ex-minister and ex-deputy minister” who had been in contact with the Khazanah Covid-19 patient and added that “The ex-minister and ex-deputy minister have attended many political meetings during the week long crisis.”

In the FB post, Wong Chen also said he would quarantine himself: “In view of the above, the responsible thing is for me to self quarantine for today and tomorrow, until we get the test results of the ex-minister and ex-deputy minister.” Both the ex-minister and ex-deputy minister are getting tested today according to NST.

MalaysiaKini reported that all three individuals had attended the same function on 27 February at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, which was an appreciation event as they were leaving the ministry after the dissolution of the Pakatan Harapan government.

According to Sarawak Report, the ex-deputy minister “is one of the closest allies of the newly appointed PM, Muhyiddin Yassin, and has been in constant contact with him and the band of cross-party schemers behind the new government over the past three days. Yet so far there has been no announcement of any contact.” The article continued, “The deputy minister (from Amanah) who accompanied him to the Khazanah event, where they were in contact with a now confirmed sufferer of the disease, has already reported himself and been voluntarily admitted into self-isolation within his own home to prevent the further spread of the highly infectious, potentially fatal disease.”

Health authorities have advised the public to quarantine themselves for 14 days if they suspect that they are infected with Covid-19.

Muhyiddin, who is recovering from stage-one pancreatic cancer, is at greater risk to contract the virus as it is easier for the virus to spread to people who have pre-existing conditions.

There have been no statements issued by the new government on this development at time of print.

Stay tuned for more news.