Show us the science, independent emergency committee told

 

The Independent Special Committee on Emergency 2021 must provide interim reports to convince the public of the effectiveness of the emergency measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19.

In a statement today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Health Ministry data suggested that the situation has become worse since the proclamation of emergency.

"There would be interim progress reports. These progress reports should indicate the effectiveness of the emergency and shutting down Parliament in winning the war against Covid-19.

"Just as the battle against Covid-19 should be based on science and data, the question of whether the emergency and suspension of Parliament helped against Covid-19 should be based on facts and figures," he said.

Yesterday, the committee issued a statement claiming that it had met six times and was in consensus over several "criteria and threshold" to maintain the emergency. The committee did not elaborate.

The committee was established under Section 2 of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on whether the emergency should be lifted before the Aug 1 expiry date.

There are three Pakatan Harapan representatives in the committee - PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke and Amanah central committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad.

It is understood that details of the meeting are official secrets. The 19-member committee is led by former chief justice Arifin Zakaria.

Since the declaration of emergency, there have been 1,936 deaths attributed to Covid-19 in 136 days. During the same 136 days prior to the emergency being declared, there were 433 deaths. This is a 4.5-fold increase.

Lim said that the facts showed that both the suspension of Parliament and giving Putrajaya emergency powers had failed to reduce Covid-19 cases.

The only solution, said Lim, was to increase the vaccination rollout.

"The escalating rise in Covid-19 infections has created fear and panic among the public resulting in a desperate search for vaccines to protect their loved ones.

"That's why the public was so upset and fuming at the botched online registration for AstraZeneca vaccines, despite its RM70-million price tag," he said.

Therefore, Lim said that there must be accountability, transparency, and oversight that only Parliament could provide.

"The committee must not allow the third wave of Covid-19 infections with a record high of 7,857 daily infections yesterday, to be used as an excuse to extend the emergency after Aug 1," added Lim. - Mkini