CORONAVIRUS | Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and former federal territories minister Khalid Samad have engaged in a banter over who is responsible for the worsening of the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.
Taking to Facebook, Najib had taken issue with a post by Khalid (photo) on Twitter.
In that post, Khalid said the Covid-19 situation was under control previously.
"The second wave of cases came on Feb 27 when the PN government was being formed, there was no cabinet at the time. The cabinet was only formed on March 10.
"(Former PKR deputy president) Azmin Ali, (Bersatu president) Muhyiddin Yassin, (Umno president) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, (PAS president) Abdul Hadi Awang and GPS' treachery had brought disaster upon the country," Khalid said.
The first wave of Covid-19 cases from Jan 25 to Feb 16 totalled 22 cases, mostly imported ones, after which there was a lull of 11 days with no cases.
The second wave of cases started on Feb 27 with a cluster involving government officials and later exploded with a second cluster from a religious gathering in Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur.
The total number of cases as of today stands at 900.
Responding to Khalid's comment, listed a chronology of events including then Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad's decision to resign as prime minister on Feb 24.
Mahathir, the Bersatu chairperson, had resigned after Harapan lost its majority in Parliament when Mahathir's party, Bersatu, was taken out of the coalition by Muhyiddin.
Mahathir's move automatically dissolved the government.
Najib also pointed out that on the morning on Feb 24, Khalid was officiating a balloon festival as the then Harapan government did not impose any restrictions.
The religious gathering in Sri Petaling, which took place from Feb 27 to March 1, happened during a period of vacuum when there was no government apart from Mahathir as the interim prime minister.
Muhyiddin, after getting support from PKR defectors, BN, PAS, GPS and other minor parties, was sworn in as the eighth prime minister on March 1.
His cabinet was unveiled on March 10.
"The PN government does not blame the seventh prime minister for causing a spike in Covid-19 cases by abruptly resigning resulting in there not being a cabinet for a week.
"We also do not want to blame the previous Harapan government for allowing the planning and organising of the mass tabligh gathering at a time when Covid-19 was spreading.
"Why won't Khalid repent?" Najib said on Facebook.
Khalid then fired back on Twitter, highlighting Muhyiddin's role as the home minister at the time.
"At the time, the home minister was busy planning the Sheraton Move which Najib has admitted was already months in the planning.
"So, how could he have realised that there was a tabligh gathering.
"Najib should repent, don't play politics at a time when the country is fighting Covid-19," he said.
He added that Mahathir was forced to resign due to the Sheraton Move.
"Najib acknowledged that the country was fighting the Covid-19 outbreak, so why then was the Sheraton Move carried out?
"Everyone was focussing on politics and did not realise about the tabligh event," he said.
The Sheraton Move refers to a series of political manoeuvring led by Azmin Ali and Muhyiddin to oust the Harapan government.
It is referred to as the "Sheraton Move" as the conspirators had gathered at Sheraton Hotel on the night of Feb 23, anticipating that they will come into power.
However, hiccups in the manoeuvring meant the new leadership could only be installed a week later, leaving a week of vacuum in the country.
Jib pasti faham, Menteri Dalam Negeri masa tu sibuk dengan langkah Sheraton yang jib juga mengaku dirancang berbulan sebelum tu. Manalah dia nak perasan Ijtimak Tabligh yang nak diadakan.
Insaflah jib. Sibuk main politik semasa negara tengah tangani Covid. Asalnya terkawal.
143 people are talking about this
- Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.