COVID-19 | Selangor state executive councillor Teng Chang Khim has lambasted the federal government over its handling of the imposition of a conditional movement control order (MCO) in Klang, saying it was carried out in an incompetent and unprofessional manner.
"The federal government had announced the conditional MCO for Klang yesterday without prior consultation with the Selangor state government and without any particulars, for example, which specific areas would be affected.
"The minister making the announcement did not seem to know that the district of Klang and Municipal Council of Klang have different local jurisdictions. Quite a wide area of City Council of Shah Alam is also under the district of Klang," the state assemblyperson for Bandar Baru Klang said in a Facebook post today.
Teng, who holds the Investment, Industry, Trade and Small and Medium Industry portfolio, said the Selangor government had acted swiftly when receiving the news about the conditional MCO on Klang yesterday evening by calling for a state-level National Security Council (NSC) today to work on the details.
"However, in the late evening yesterday, the prime minister (Muhyiddin Yassin) called for the NSC meeting today at 11am requiring the presence of all the menteris besar and chief ministers.
"This has disrupted the state government's plan to convene the state-level NSC meeting to iron out all foreseeable problems consequential to the conditional MCO."
Not mincing his words, Teng (photo) said it was unimaginable that the federal government has acted so incompetently and unprofessionally despite only recently learning the experience during the imposition of the MCO.
The conditional MCO, which will take effect tomorrow, was decided by the NSC yesterday and announced by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob at 4pm.
Following this, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the SOPs for the conditional MCO in Klang are yet to be finalised as the state-level NSC intended to meet this morning, a meeting that now clashes with the federal NSC meeting.
Selangor is one of three states still being governed by the Pakatan Harapan coalition and leaders such as Lim Kit Siang have accused Muhyiddin's administration of sideling the three state governments in high-level discussions on the Covid-19 situation.
Teng added that if no sufficient particulars are obtained at the federal NSC meeting today, Selangor will discuss them at the state level.
Meanwhile, Amirudin himself in a brief statement today said the state government had collected feedback from various agencies and departments during a Klang conditional MCO coordination meeting chaired by state secretary Mohd Amin Ahmad Ahya on his behalf this morning.
"The Selangor government has submitted all feedback and suggestions related to the implementation of the conditional MCO (with some modifications) at the virtual NSC meeting with the prime minister at 11am.
"For the coordination and uniformity of information, the NSC under the federal government will announce the details of the Klang conditional MCO and the state government will work as best as possible with all agencies to ensure the well-being of the people is protected," said Amirudin.
He added that the state government would continue to conduct targeted screening for Covid-19 cases in red zones as a further measure to control the spread of the epidemic.
Yesterday, Klang MP Charles Santiago's social media pages were inundated with complaints by residents who said they were confused by Ismail's announcement.
"How come the decision to enforce conditional MCO in Klang was not discussed with the Selangor state government before the announcement? This is a bit ridiculous, right?
"How can the meeting and SOP be established only after the conditional MCO announcement? Shouldn't it be the other way around - have proper SOP first then announce and enforce?" one commenter on the MP's Facebook page asked.
Among questions asked by the residents were whether they would be able to go to work outside of Klang, whether they are required to obtain a permit to leave the district as essential workers, and if suppliers would be able to deliver goods in that period.
Many also wanted to know where the district border is and if their areas will be affected.
"This just shows how unprepared some are. And to think we have gone through months of this. (The government holds) endless press conferences telling Malaysians to follow SOPs but agencies who should prepare for the worst still have no urgency," another commenter said. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.