In a statement, the Bagan MP claimed that home quarantine did not seem to be an option for “ordinary citizens” returning from overseas.

Lim cited the case of S Mani Vannan, a pilot with Singapore Airlines, who was denied home quarantine to care for his cancer-stricken mother despite taking seven Covid-19 tests and receiving the vaccine in Singapore.

Yesterday, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said Santhara was granted permission for home quarantine as he had returned from a low-risk country and had a suitable home for the purpose.

Describing this reasoning as disappointing, Lim said this scenario was no different from the incident involving plantation industries and commodities minister Khairuddin Aman Razali, who was only issued a RM1,000 fine for failing to undergo mandatory quarantine after returning from Turkey last year.

“Noor Hisham’s explanation raises questions on the ministry’s requirement of a suitable home. Is a home suitable for quarantine only if it is palatial or owned by the rich and powerful?” asked Lim.

“Such double standards between one who is rich and powerful, and another who is an ordinary citizen, displays arrogance and contempt for right against wrong.”

He urged the government to stop acting arrogant and doing as it liked simply because Parliament was still suspended.

Santhara was recently allowed to undergo home quarantine after a controversial 55-day trip to New Zealand to see his family amid Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Noor Hisham had said the ministry would perform a risk assessment and take into consideration “all factors and the place of quarantine” when making a recommendation on quarantine.