In a video that has gone viral, Sanusi had been asked by a reporter whether there were enough containers in the state to store the bodies of persons who had died from Covid-19.

To this, he said there were enough, before quipping that anyone who wanted to enter (the container) had to submit their names, sparking an outcry from social media users and politicians alike.

“I love to joke and last night, I was joking with reporters who are like family to me.

“But as there were some who were hurt by my remarks, I would like to apologise to them,” he told reporters after visiting a vaccination centre at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).

He went on to say that reporters he spoke to knew that he liked to crack jokes, but it was his “luck” that the particular quip was caught on video.

Sanusi also said he accepted the criticisms levelled at him over his joke.

“Many sent me messages reprimanding me. And I accept it as part of my job.”

Yesterday, a record high 20,889 Covid-19 cases were reported nationwide, with 1,371 detected in Kedah alone.

To date, over 10,100 have died from the virus.

Some hospitals in the country have resorted to storing bodies of persons who had died from Covid-19 in shipping containers.

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