KOTA KINABALU: Two former state ministers have criticised the transfer to Putrajaya of Sabah health director Dr Christina Rundi, saying it is not a good time to do so with the battle against Covid-19 at a critical stage.
Former health and people’s wellbeing minister Frankie Poon and former youth and sports minister Phoong Jin Zhe told FMT Sabah still needed Rundi’s experience and capabilities.
Poon attributed to Rundi much of the state’s success in managing infections until last September, when the state election was held.
He said it was the influx of people into the state for the election campaign that caused cases to skyrocket. However, he said the situation was brought under control again and, although it had been fluctuating since, it had not been as alarming as the situation in Peninsular Malaysia.
“I worked with her and I saw that she knew what she was doing,” he said.
“She should not have been transferred out now given the fact that she has done quite well for Sabah. Remember we also had a polio issue at one time and she managed it fairly well.
“I don’t think she ever sleeps.”
Poon said he had nothing against Rundi’s replacement, but added: “We cannot afford to make a change now just for the sake of change. We’re in an unusual situation.”
Phoong said the federal government should explain the transfer.
He asked whether there was any political interference involved. “This is very fishy and Sabahans deserve an explanation,” he said.
Yesterday, doctors in government service and private practice here questioned Rundi’s transfer to the health ministry’s family development division in Putrajaya as its director. They, too, said her expertise was needed in the state.
Rundi was replaced by another Sabahan, Dr Rose Nani Mudin, whose appointment came into effect on July 13.
Rose was the health ministry’s deputy director in charge of infectious diseases and also the director of the vaccination centre at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.
Former federal deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said Rundi was “committed, capable and dared to make difficult decisions”.
He would not comment on the transfer since it probably had to do with human resource planning.
“We cannot deny career advancement for Rundi either,” he said.
“The transfer as head of the family development division means she is responsible for health clinics and rural clinics nationwide with over 3,000 facilities, and heavily responsible over maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases prevention, vaccines and communicable diseases.
“This is the largest subdivision of the public health division of the health ministry.” - FMT
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