KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin insisted today that the authorities do not practise double standards in enforcing self-quarantine for those who tested positive for Covid-19.

In a special address, the prime minister said seven other ministers and six deputy ministers are currently quarantined at home after Datuk Zulkifli Mohamad tested positive yesterday, even as ministers have previously skipped such quarantine before.

"My fellow Malaysians, I’d like to stress here that there are no double standards when it comes to adherence to the quarantine orders.

"I myself am self-quarantining at home after chairing a meeting that was attended by a minister who was found positive for Covid-19 later on,” he said in a live telecast, referring to Zulkifli.

"These are SOPs set by the health ministry and as prime minister I am not exempt from this. This is in fact the second time I am self-quarantining,” he added from his home.

He said that all ministers under his care have to adhere to the new SOPs and self-quarantine, or action can be taken if they break the law.

Muhyiddin’s remark came even as Zulkifli had skipped self-quarantine for 11 days since returning from Sabah, and another minister, Datuk Khairuddin Aman Razali had also breached quarantine upon returning from Turkey.

The prime minister was chairing a special National Security Council meeting on October 3 that was also attended by Zulkifli who was yesterday found positive for Covid-19.

Zulkifli was heavily criticised for not self-quarantining following his return from Sabah and instead had carried out a packed schedule that saw him criss-crossing the peninsula on official and personal business.

This was not the first incident of a minister flouting the law. Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Khairuddin had visited Turkey between July 3 and 7, but was already back in Parliament on July 13.

Under the National Security Council’s SOP, all returnees are tested on arrival and those with negative results must then serve out their 14-day quarantine, while those who test positive are sent to a hospital for further treatment.

A breach of this order is punishable under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 by up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

He was fined only RM1,000, but citizens were angry that Khairuddin was not sent to jail like others for breaking the law.

"The local enforcement laws must be followed by everyone. I believe cases will continue to increase leading the health ministry to up their screening process.

"With me now are seven ministers and six deputy minister who are also home quarantining themselves for 14 days. They are not exempt from action being taken against them if they flout the rules.

"Covid-19 knows no rank, no status and it will infect anyone. SOPs set by the authorities are for everyone to follow,” he added.