Dr M on influenza outbreak: We’ll look into quarantine if situation persists
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he will look into quarantine measures if the influenza outbreak in schools get worse.
Mahathir, who is also Acting Education Minister, said he was still in the midst of getting information on the matter.
“I’m still new to the job and need time to familiarise myself on every matters pertaining to the portfolio,” he said, after Bank Rakyat’s Inaugural Integrity Forum 2020 at Menara Bank Rakyat here today.
Also present were Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof and Bank Rakyat chairman Datuk Noripah Kamso.
To date, two students have died and a school in Perak have been closed due to the influenza outbreak.
The infuenza outbreak has also affected several schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang and Johor.
Worried about the matter, the National Union of Teaching Profession in Malaysia (NUTP) recently suggested that the government should look into quarantine measures to stem the outbreak.
Meanwhile, Mahathir also touched on the on-going power transition plan, saying he would relinquish the premiership if the Pakatan Harapan leadership council tells him to do so.
“If the leadership council decides that I must quit, then I will go,” he said.
Mahathir had promised to relinquish his post to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after two years, before the last general election.
By Irman Hashim