KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Sin Chew Daily) — No cabinet meetings for the past two weeks as COVID-19 pandemic is worsening in the country.

Prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and seven ministers are currently on home quarantine.

The weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday (Oct 7) was canceled, and on September 30, ministers who had traveled to Sabah to campaign in the state elections had to go through COVID-19 screenings.

They complied with the standard operating procedures set by the health ministry to undergo self-quarantine at home.

Works ministry senior minister Datuk Seri Fadilah Yusof confirmed with Sin Chew Daily that the cabinet meeting was deferred as the prime minister and some ministers were on quarantine at home.

He said the government did not have plan to hold a virtual cabinet meeting.

"I am on 14-day self-isolation at home in Kuala Lumpur. But we work from home," said Fadilah.

It is learned that the cabinet did not opt for virtual meeting for fear of information leak.

The seven ministers on home quarantine are defense minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, international trade and industry minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, foreign minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, youth and sports minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican, ministry of agriculture and food industries Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, minister in the prime minister's department (parliament and law) Datuk Haji Takiyuddin Hassan, and Fadilah.

A health ministry source said Azmin tested negative for COVID-19 and was on home quarantine.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin said on Tuesday that a total of seven ministers and six deputy ministers were placed on home quarantine, and action would be taken against those violating the order.