Malaysia recorded 4,008 cases yesterday, increasing the total number of infections to 169,379 cases

by HAZIQAH A MALEK / pic by BERNAMA

UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (picture; centre) is undergoing home quarantine after volunteering for a Covid-19 test at the Avisena Hospital in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Ahmad Zahid is the latest politician who has decided to do the test after several of his party members, along with a number of Cabinet ministers and MPs tested positive for Covid-19.

Earlier, Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was announced as the latest in a list of politicians who tested positive for the virus.

On Tuesday, National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique was the fifth Cabinet minister to test positive for Covid-19.

Ministers who tested positive for Covid-19 are Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin (Jan 13); Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Jan 12); Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun (Jan 10); Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (Jan 9).

The Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) in a statement yesterday said Hamzah is currently undergoing treatment and quarantine at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and his health is in stable condition.

“In this regard, the office of KDN requests all parties to continue to pray for his speedy recovery,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan also tested positive for Covid-19 on Jan 3.

Several MPs who have tested positive for Covid-19 are Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (on Monday), PAS VP Idris Ahmad (Jan 15); Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Tengku Hamzah (Jan 13); Parit Yaani state assemblyman Aminolhuda Hassan (Jan 12); Galas state assemblyman Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim (Jan 11); Nenggiri assemblyman Ab Aziz Yusoff (Jan 9); and Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Robert Tawik (Jan 8).

Meanwhile, Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said out of the 16 new clusters identified yesterday, 11 were workplace clusters, while five were categorised as community clusters.

Dr Noor Hisham said out of the 11 workplace clusters, three were in Johor, followed by Selangor (two), Melaka (two) and one each in Sabah, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur (KL).

“Meanwhile, the community clusters were composed of two in Pahang, with one each in Perak, Johor and Sabah,” he said in a statement yesterday.

With the increase of 16 clusters yesterday alongside the expiry of three — namely Jalan Domis in Penampang, Sabah; Tinusa in Sabah and Sarawak; and Delima in KL — the Ministry of Health (MoH) is currently monitoring 318 clusters.

“Clusters that are reporting the highest number of cases are Bina Muda construction site, KL (237), Jalan Zuhrah construction site, Selangor (175) and Pasai, Sarawak (139),” he said.

Malaysia recorded 4,008 Covid-19 cases yesterday, increasing the total number of infections to 169,379 cases. Among the local cases, 2,802 are Malaysians, while 1,201 are foreigners.

Selangor yet again reported the highest number of cases at 1,391, followed by KL (513) and Johor (470).

There are 41,087 active cases with 246 patients being treated in intensive care units and 96 requiring respiratory aid.

Meanwhile, the 11 deaths reported yesterday — Selangor (four); Sabah (three); Johor (three); and Sarawak (one) — bring the number of fatalities to 630.