MELAKA: Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali (pic) wishes a speedy recovery to Peter Gomez, former Regedor (headman) of the Portuguese Settlement, who is in critical condition at Melaka Hospital due to Covid-19.

       The Melaka Chief Minister hopes Gomez will get well soon after the latter was rushed to hospital late Saturday (July 17) night after developing breathing difficulties.

       "On behalf of the state government and myself, I wish Gomez a speedy recovery.

       "It's also sad to hear that there were several positive Covid-19 cases registered at the Settlement," he said in an interview Monday (July 19).

       Sulaiman said the state government will do its best to contain the spread of the disease at the Settlement and he urges the residents to strictly observe the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

       Gomez was the longest-serving Regedor of the Settlement until the state government repealed the position a few years ago.

       He assumed the position in 1992.

       On Sunday (July 18), Portuguese Action Committee chairman Martin Theseira said Gomez was still normal when he met him on Thursday (July 15) during a sanitisation exercise in the Settlement.

       However, Gomez's condition rapidly deteriorated less than two days after he tested positive.

       Theseira said that the condition of the 65-year-old Gomez reflects the severity of the infection within the Settlement and added that the necessary measures must be carried out at once.

       Meanwhile, Cloudsoft Services Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Ignatius Lourdsamy said the planned distribution of electronic gadgets to students in the Settlement will continue despite many of the residents testing positive for Covid-19.

       "My team will take all precautionary measures before handing over the gadgets," he said.