Malaysia PM quarantines as minister tests positive for virus

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Monday he will self-quarantine after a Cabinet minister he was in contact with tested positive for the coronavirus, as new cases in the country hit a record high.

Muhyiddin had chaired an Oct. 3 meeting attended by Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, who confirmed Monday he has been hospitalized for treatment.

The health ministry has warned that Malaysia is facing a new wave of virus cases as the outbreak has widened in recent days. New clusters have sprung up in many states amid increased travel to eastern Sabah state, a hotspot zone, for a state election last month.

New virus cases hit a record daily high of 432 on Monday, bringing Malaysia's tally to 12,813 with 137 deaths. Nearly half were from a prison in a northern state, and 130 were in Sabah.

Muhyiddin, who took power in March after a political coup, said in a statement that he underwent virus testing every two weeks since April. But since returning from campaigning in Sabah, he had tested three times since Sept. 22 and all were negative.

However, he said he will observe the quarantine and work from home until Oct. 16. Muhyiddin said all those in close contact with Zulkifli at the meeting will undergo compulsory quarantine, while others are advised to observe self-isolation.

Local reports cited national police chief Abdul Hamid Bador, who also attended the meeting, as saying he will isolate himself even though he tested negative. Other attendees reportedly included several ministers, the armed forces chief and the health director-general. Health ministry officials couldn't be immediately reached for confirmation and further details.

This was the second time that Muhyiddin has voluntarily observed a...