KUALA LUMPUR, August 13 — Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim asserted that 10 additional Covid-19 cases have been detected in Kedah as of 2.30pm yesterday, including eight from his constituency.
He noted that Kedah and Baling, a district in Kedah, were previously free of new Covid-19 cases with “green” status, but now new infections have popped up, as he acknowledged that the new cases have not been officially reported yet.
“The cluster has not been classified yet, but those affected are our friends from the Indian community who had gone to Bukit Mertajam, [Penang], for some prayers,” the Umno lawmaker told the Dewan Rakyat today during Minister’s Question Time.
Abdul Azeez said he received the report from a health officer, who also reported one coronavirus case from Sungai Petani and one Covid-19 case in Kulim, both districts in Kedah.
He also called for continuous roadblocks along Kedah’s borders with Thailand and Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Parliament.
“Yesterday, our Parliament was congested with government officers and politicians. We don’t blame them for coming, but I feel the SOP in our Dewan Rakyat, at our entrance, is not stringent,” Abdul Azeez said.
Deputy Health Minister Aaron Ago Dagang replied that MOH’s official report yesterday only stated 11 new Covid-19 cases nationwide.
“Maybe today,” Aaron said.
“Yes, the report will come out today,” Abdul Azeez replied.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported three local transmissions at 5pm yesterday: two from Kedah (identified through screening at a medical centre) and one from Sabah (a foreigner identified from screening of new detainees at the Tawau police station lockup). The other eight new Covid-19 cases were imported infections from Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, and Japan (found in Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Sabah). MOH’s daily report in the evening is usually based on cases confirmed before 12pm.
Abdul Azeez also complained today about the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers in rural areas.
“I suggest MOH to supply PPE to frontliners in the rural areas, PPE is still less there,” the Baling MP told Aaron, after the latter claimed that Malaysia has adequate protective gear for the next three months, including 18 million three-ply surgical masks.
Update at 8.50pm: MOH confirmed the Tawar cluster in Baling with 10 Covid-19 cases, including nine newly reported today. No other cases were reported in Kedah today. Read more here.
