Coronavirus

Malaysian PM in quarantine after contact with COVID-19 patient

cde.news desk 30 August 2021, 09:40 · 1 min read

epa09420010 Former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (C) reacts while leaving the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party headquarters to National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 19 August 2021. Members of parliament from parties aligned to Perikatan Nasional (PN) have been summoned by the Malaysian King to National Palace to ascertain their support for Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the next prime minister EPA-EFE/AHMAD YUSNI

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is under quarantine following a close contact with a COVID-19 patient, his office said in a statement on Monday.

His office did not say how long he would be in quarantine or whether he had been tested for the coronavirus.

Ismail Sabri was sworn in as prime minister earlier this month, succeeding Muhyiddin Yassin who had resigned after failing to hold onto a narrow majority in parliament.

He takes charge amid public anger over the handling of the pandemic, with a recent surge in COVID-19 cases to record highs and downgraded growth forecasts after the economy has been battered by extended lockdowns.

Photo: Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. EPA-EFE/AHMAD YUSNI