KUALA LUMPUR:UMNO President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on behalf of all UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) members has apologised to Malaysians and frontline staff following the spike in new COVID-19 cases.

In a post on Twitter, Ahmad Zahid, who expressed concern over the latest situation of COVID-19 which was deemed alarming following the recent Sabah State Election (PRN), said it was not BN's choice.

"The latest situation of COVID-19 is very worrying. Representing UMNO and BN, I apologise to the people and frontliners due to the increase in the epidemic following the Sabah PRN held which is not BN's early choice.

"BN members and machinery in the Sabah PRN must comply with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH)," he said.

At the same time, Zahid also advised the people to take care of themselves and pray to Allah that this epidemic will end.

Earlier, the Director General of Health, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced an additional 260 new cases on Thursday.