KOTA KINABALU: Penampang MP Darell Leiking has taken the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government to task after new infections continued to rise in his constituency, particularly over the past week.
Leiking, who is Warisan deputy president, claimed that GRS lacked foresight and seriousness about curbing the pandemic in the district.
“Less than two weeks ago, several Penampang folks including me reminded the GRS-led state government to act quickly to contain the rising cases in the district,” he said in a statement today.
He said they had suggested measures, such as the introduction of prioritised appointments to improve the vaccination programme in the district.
“This appointment involves government-deployed grassroots leaders to identify and furnish the names of those who have yet to be vaccinated to the heads of the vaccination centres (PPVs).
“This could have further enhanced vaccinations since health workers could be deployed to inoculate the people at their villages more quickly and efficiently.”
Leiking said another suggestion was for the government to introduce community monitoring and enforcement by requesting the grassroots leaders to make the rounds in their villages to prevent residents from flouting SOPs.
“But did the GRS-led state government listen? No. Instead, they continued with the restrictions and permitted only the fully vaccinated to shop at hypermarkets or eat in restaurants.
“These restrictions are no different from the two full lockdowns the state had before and they are definitely not the end that we wanted, which is herd immunity through 80% of the population vaccinated.”
The updated Sabah SOPs state that all eatery operators must ensure only fully vaccinated staff and dine-in customers with a low-risk status may enter their premises.
Only fully-vaccinated customers and workers are allowed to enter supermarkets.
Meanwhile, a local NGO hoped the state government would not only expedite but also “force procure” vaccines and enhance the vaccination process in Sabah.
“We are now living with the virus and the severity of the situation tells us that self-discipline by all is paramount, especially in adhering to SOPs,” said Penampang Act of Kindness Association (Paka) chairman Bartholomew Jingulam.
“But we see this awareness is lacking among the population even at PPVs offering walk-in vaccination.
“The lack of awareness over SOPs should have been anticipated and the authorities could have done more to ensure the rules are strictly enforced at the PPVs,” he said.
The Sabah government had announced previously that it had ordered all state government-linked corporations to purchase vaccines in order to address any eventuality that could cause a supply shortage. - FMT
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