Customer Group, NGOs Are Looking At Sueing The Man Who Caused The Sivagangga Cluster

So many people have been affected by this man’s irresponsible actions.

Malay Mail

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A consumer group and several other NGOs in Kedah are planning to sue the man who authorities identified as patient zero of the Sivagangga Covid-19 cluster.

What you need to know: Consumers Association of Kedah (CAKE) secretary Mohd Yusrizal Yusoff said his association has decided to take the lead in the civil action lawsuit which has at least five other NGOs and several business owners as co-complainants.

The groups are already speaking to lawyers to make a draft of the suit.

Why it matters: After the government ruled that travellers returning to Malaysia would be allowed to undergo their 14-day quarantine at home, instead of at government facilities, the country saw a surge in new cases while Malaysians shared pictures of several people openly defying their home quarantine orders.

While it’s obvious that some are not taking orders from the government seriously, it seems that the people are now taking matters into their own hands by taking legal action against irresponsible members of the community.

Mohd Yusrizal Yusoff (Credit: Persatuan Pengguna Kedah/Facebook)

Who said what: Mohd Yusrizal said the RM1,000 fine by authorities would be a slap on the wrist for the man. Therefore, they want to take him to court as his irresponsible actions have caused all Kedahans to suffer.

Legal action against him will serve as a warning to others against messing around with Covid-19 quarantine orders.
Mohd Yusrizal Yusoff via Free Malaysia Today

What’s next: Four mukims in Kubang Pasu have been placed on a targeted enhanced movement control order (TEMCO), while the state government has ordered for the closure of the Nasi Kandar Salleh restaurant until the TEMCO ends on 30 August. The state government is also considering revoking the restaurant’s business licence.

How it got here: The Sivagangga cluster was found to have originated from a man with a Malaysian permanent resident status who lives in Napoh, Kubang Pasu. Upon his return to Malaysia from a visit to Sivagangga, a town in Tamil Nadu, the man had reportedly disobeyed his home quarantine orders to visit his restaurant, Nasi Kandar Salleh, on Hari Raya Haji.

The cluster has since spread across three generations, as well as to neighbouring states Perlis and Penang. As of yesterday, the cluster makes up almost half of Kedah’s total 132 positive cases. Considering the rate of infection, the Health Ministry believes the virus may have originated from a super-spreading strain from Egypt.

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