Today’s speculation for Malaysians in Singapore: Those fully vaccinated will apply for a “suitable home” quarantine as they are coming from a country with a low Covid-19 risk.
However, they will query: “What’s a suitable home for quarantine?”
They will try to figure out what health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah meant by the requirement of a “suitable home” for anyone intending to undergo home isolation.
Does it mean a bungalow or a big condo? Or the number and size of the rooms? Or the number of occupants and servants?
Or does it mean a “suitable home” must measure up to the mansion of Edmund Santhara, the deputy federal territories minister?
To be sure, Noor Hisham’s communication of reason for a “suitable home” was professionally limited.
He should have clarified it further by saying it is not a structure or type of building but the home setting itself – a separate room where the person can be isolated from his family and where his requirements such as toiletries and food can be met.
Yesterday, he said Santhara was allowed to do home quarantine after his holiday in New Zealand for 55 days because he had a “suitable home” and that he was coming from a country that has a low Covid-19 risk.
What about fully vaccinated Singapore Airlines pilot, S Mani Vannan, who also did seven Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, but was ordered to undergo hotel quarantine despite coming from a virus-free republic in February?
Mani Vannan sought in vain to be placed in quarantine at his home in Kulai, Johor, so he could care for his cancer-stricken mother.
His request was rejected on the grounds quarantine was mandatory for all Malaysians and non-citizens returning from abroad even though they brought along the Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
Noor Hisham explained Santhara’s matter after Mani Vannan accused him of giving preferential treatment to political elites, but it fell flat.
His diet of drivel was unacceptable to many Malaysians.
The narrative of a man, who once knew how to work a room, unfazed by whatever was thrown at him in the early days of the coronavirus crisis, is beyond repair.
Mani Vannan sent another email to Noor Hisham yesterday asking him when the protocol of a “suitable home” for quarantine was implemented and where he could find its definition.
He reiterated that there was zero community case in Singapore when he applied for home quarantine in February.
He said New Zealand had an average of five cases over the past seven days as of March 25 when Singapore had none.
He wrote: “As such, Malaysian returnees from Singapore should have been given the same option as Santhara to show if their home was suitable for quarantine.
“Why was only Santhara given this preference? As I have many colleagues and friends who want to return from Singapore, perhaps you could detail the conditions for a suitable home for quarantine as Singapore meets your requirement as a low risk country.”
Noor Hisham, who many say has gone from being a motivator to acting like a politician, will probably continue to earn waspish headlines but ultimately he will carry on his merry way.
Proper explanation can offset unpleasantness. The fact that politicians and certain civil servants get off easily cannot be denied.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
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