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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Vice Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Zahidi Zainul Abidin, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday (January 13).
A statement issued by his office said Zahidi underwent a COVID-19 test upon returning to Kuala Lumpur from Penang on Monday. The test came back positive Wednesday morning.
Mr. Zahidi was taken to Sungai Buloh Hospital for further treatment according to the guidelines established by the Ministry of Health.
“Zahidi is now in a stable condition and apologizes for any inconvenience caused,” the statement said. “Also pray that Allah SWT will make it easier for everyone involved.”
The statement added that Mr. Zahidi had undergone another COVID-19 test on December 25 of last year that came back negative.
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The news of Zahidi’s infection comes after three Malaysian cabinet ministers tested positive for COVID-19 in four days: the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Minister Mustapa Mohamed last Saturday; The Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Rina Mohd Harun, last Sunday; and Interior Minister Hamzah Zainudin on Tuesday.
Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah declared a nationwide state of emergency on Tuesday to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Five states (Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor, and Sabah) and the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan are currently under Movement Control Order (MCO) restrictions again for two weeks until January 26.
Interstate travel is prohibited across the country, while interdistrict travel is not allowed for states under the MCO.
Malaysia reported a record 3,309 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.
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