Use funds to fight Covid-19, 5G can come later, govt told

 

With hospitals bursting at the seams, the RM11 billion for 5G can be better used on beds, makeshift hospitals and oxygen for patients, says Charles Santiago.

PETALING JAYA: The RM11 billion to be allocated by the government to roll out Malaysia’s 5G network would be better spent on expanding the nation’s health capacity given the severity of the Covid-19 crisis, Klang MP Charles Santiago said.

Earlier this month, the special purpose vehicle established by the government to build the 5G network, Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), announced that it had appointed Swedish firm Ericsson (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to build and maintain the 5G network in anticipation of its rollout in the latter stages of the year.

In a statement, Santiago said that with frontline medical personnel facing difficulties with the worsening crisis – with some forced to decide which critical patients get treatment first and which must go without – the government must be wise and prioritise health spending over the network.

“This (RM11 billion) fund should instead be used to build makeshift hospitals and buy life-saving equipment including oxygen tanks and ventilators, not to mention hospital beds. Hospitals are struggling to cope due to the rising cases.

“Further, the government could spend more in purchasing vaccines, and invest in home based Covid-19 test kits (such as saliva kits) and pulse oximeters for home monitoring.”

He proposed that DNB’s timeline be pushed back a year, so funding can be freed up to help alleviate the strain on government hospitals, many of which have been converted into dedicated Covid-19 facilities.

“Let’s be clear, the 5G network development is important but the current priority should be to bolster the collapsing health care system and save lives,” he said.