Former prime minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is putting himself under quarantine for 2 weeks after he came into close contact with an MP who later tested positive for Covid-19.

According to the New Straits Times, a spokesman for Tun M had confirmed the news via text message yesterday (March 19) night.

“Yes, second-day quarantine. He is alright,” he said.

It is believed that the said MP was Dr. Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, who is being treated at the Sarawak General Hospital at the moment. Both of them had taken a photo before.

The Star reported that Dr. Kelvin Yii revealed he had tested positive for Covid-19 in a Facebook post on March 17, after he had had close contact with Sarikei MP Andrew Wong Ling Biu, who was infected on March 15.

In an exclusive interview with TV3, Tun M shared his experience of being quarantined at home.

He said that he was following the requirements to be quarantined, and that self-discipline is vital in addressing the problem.

“We must self-quarantine at home for 14 days. This way, there will be less possibility of the virus spreading and infecting other people,” said the medical doctor.

“So, I cannot go out now. I cannot meet with anyone, I cannot shake hands and others,” he added.

A wise and experienced old man, Tun M urged Malaysians to stay put at homes instead of going back to their hometowns during the Movement Control Order period. Being a doctor himself, he also advised the people to get screened when told to do so by the authorities.

It is learned that the 95-year-old former prime minister had undergone a test for Covid-19 on Tuesday, but the results are still unknown at the time of writing. Hopefully, Tun M’s test results come back negative, and the outbreak ends very soon.