‘Do not manipulate RTK test result’

SHAH ALAM - An employee who is found to have manipulated the report of their RTK test result and says he or she is positive for Covid-19 may be subject to job dismissal if found guilty.

Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general, Kamarul Baharin Mansor said employers can impose such action according to the Employment Act 1955.

According to him, however, the individuals should only be charged after investigation is made upon the matter.

“It is hoped that the employers can take necessary action if any of their employees are trying to cheat on their RTK test.

“It is very inappropriate for the employees to cheat but the information needs to be investigated whether it is true or false.

“If it is proven that the employee is trying to go on leave, then action should be taken on the individual,” he told Sinar Harian on Sunday.

On feb 7, the Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said, symptomatic individuals who are tested positive after taking the RTK antigen test do not have to go for Real-Time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase (RT-PCR).

He explained that individuals should assume that they are infected by the Covid-19 virus without having to take an RT-PCR test and undergo quarantine as specified by the Health Ministry.

However, it is feared that the matter could be manipulated by certain parties to get a leave from the company.

In the meantime, Kamarul Baharin said, any employers who want to curb the issue can send their involved employees to the panel clinic of their respective companies for confirmation.

He stressed that this is the most appropriate measure for employers to educate their employees.

“Employers can issue a memo of standard operating procedures if the employee is confirmed to be positive of Covid-19. For example if the individual has a fever, takes the RTK and is tested positive, it is better for them to go to the panel clinic for confirmation, ”he said.