Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob did not attend the swearing-in ceremony of his cabinet members today, after being identified as a Covid-19 close contact.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said the prime minister was under self-quarantine starting today and would have to miss the swearing-in ceremony at Istana Negara at 2.30pm.
“The Prime Minister will be placed under self-quarantine after being identified as a close contact to Covid-19.
“Due to that, the Prime Minister cannot attend the swearing-in ceremony before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah this evening,” it said.
It also said the premier will attend the 2021 National Day celebration at Dataran Pahlawan Negara in Putrajaya virtually tomorrow.
Ismail Sabri is scheduled to give a special address in conjunction with Merdeka Day at 9pm tonight aired live at mainstream media channels and their Facebook pages.
All 31 ministers and 38 deputy ministers were present today for the swearing-in ceremony with the exception of Kimanis MP Datuk Mohamad Alamin who has contracted Covid-19.
Mohamad has been named as the new Deputy Minister of Education. He is currently receiving treatment in Kuala Lumpur and is in a stable condition.