PETALING JAYA, Mar 24 (Sin Chew Daily) — Datuk Seri Dr. Edmund Santhara Kumar Ramanaidu, the deputy federal territories minister who has taken 55 days of leave to visit his family in New Zealand, has started work online under quarantine.

He replied to Sin Chew Daily via WhatsApp that he had already come back to Malaysia last week, and is now on mandatory quarantine.

Santhara emphasized over and again that he had complied with all the SOPs set by the government and health ministry.

"I was back last week and have since been on mandatory quarantine. I have actually started work online through Zoom, WhatsApp and video calls in full compliance with health ministry SOPs.

"Unlike the (PKR) Batu MP who attended parliamentary sitting last December during quarantine.

"Every Malaysian must follow the SOPs, be it home quarantine or mandatory quarantine. Everyone just has to follow, including MPs, ministers and deputy ministers. No one is above the law!

"At this stage all my work and meetings have been done in compliance with the SOPs. All face-to-face meetings will only be carried out after my quarantine ends."

Santhara, nevertheless, has declined to answer a question many have had in their minds: whether he is a New Zealand permanent resident.

He applied leave for almost three months from December 28 last year to March 20.