Don't be selective - MOH expert says amid complaints VIPs get mask exemption

CORONAVIRUS | Infectious disease expert Christopher Lee, who is part of the Health Ministry's Covid-19 mortality review committee, said authorities cannot appear to be selective in enforcing a mandate for people to wear a face mask in crowded places.

Lee (above) said this in response to retired paediatrician consultant Amar Singh, who highlighted on Twitter the photograph of ministers Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin in a crowded room without a face mask.

Amar, who was formerly the Paediatric Department head at Ipoh Hospital, asked: "Did we fine all these people who broke the mask standard operating procedure (SOP) on Aug 8, 2020? There is photographic evidence to take action".

This came amid complaints of double standards after police slapped RM1,000 fine on youth for not wearing his mask properly at a train platform, leaving him in tears. 

Lee, responding to Amar on Twitter, said enforcement must be consistent.

"We have to be consistent and apply the mask mandate uniformly across all strata of society.

"Otherwise, it actually undermines our policy and hints of selective enforcement. Our rakyat can see...," he said.

The photograph was first shared on Azmin's Twitter page.

"Tonight, I am at the Sabah International Convention Centre to meet with Penggerak Komuniti Negara, NOW (Nation of Women), Wanita Muda and Sabah Pemuda Negara - Politics is not about power, it is about doing our utmost to serve the rakyat," he said.

The four entities are seen to be the precursor platforms for a new political party to be led by Azmin.

However, Azmin's lieutenant Zuraida had said that the political party is unlikely to be set up at this point as there won't be enough time to prepare for the 15th general election which is due in 2023 but could be called earlier due to the government's fragile majority.

Azmin leads a group of 10 MPs including himself who originally defected from PKR to support the Perikatan Nasional government.

This number increased to 11 after his group also facilitated the defection of Lubok Antu MP Jugah Muyang.

Azmin's defection facilitated the fall of the Harapan government in late February and the formation of a new governing coalition comprising his group, Bersatu, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR.

 - Mkini