Reveal plans to cope with increased Covid-19 cases, Anwar urges govt

 

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim (above) has called on the Perikatan Nasional government to step up and come up with effective strategies to combat the sharp spike in Covid-19 cases.

In a media statement released after it was revealed that PN ministers Mustapa Mohamed and Rina Harun have tested positive for Covid-19, Anwar commiserated with them but also said that it was incumbent on the current administration to act.

"The government must reveal what its plans are and what strategies it has to help those who are infected by this epidemic at a time when the health system is getting increasingly burdened.

"[Also], how our economy should continue to move at this moment," said Anwar who cited the possibility raised by the Health Ministry that Malaysia might soon have 8,000 daily cases.

"I urge each of us to obey SOPs at all times to protect ourselves, families, peers and friends from the spread of this epidemic. It is very important to play our role regardless of position, race, religion or political party.

"What is especially important is that political leaders must increase their discipline and concern for the people who do not receive any special treatment compared to those in government," said Anwar.

He expressed his appreciation to the frontline officers who are committed to performing their duty despite being exposed to this epidemic.

Mustapa received his positive test result on Saturday evening and had since been taken to the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, for treatment.

Rina was tested at the Putrajaya Health Clinic yesterday morning, received her result last night, and has been warded at the Sungai Buloh Hospital since earlier this morning.

Public perception problem

Veteran DAP leader Kim Kit Siang called on the government to reveal the Covid-19 status of all cabinet ministers as they would have come into close contact with the infected ministers.

"There should be immediate and full disclosure of this information, considering the trust deficit suffered by the PNl ministers and leaders over the management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Will the Health Ministry or the Prime Minister’s Office issue such a statement immediately?" asked Lim who is also Iskandar Puteri MP.

PKR's Subang MP Wong Chen said that there is currently a serious public perception problem.

"The glaring perception is, if government ministers can be infected by Covid-19 with all the measures and special advantages afforded to them, then everyone else in Malaysia is vulnerable.

"The follow-up question is, how did these ministers get infected? Did they attend a lot of public events? Were they not disciplined enough to comply with their own SOPs? If the ministers failed to comply with the SOPs, then the people need to know.

"The government has to transparently explain how these ministers were infected, so to allay public speculation and fears. This needs to be done now," Wong said.

Yesterday, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah lamented the rapid increase in the rate of Covid-19 fatalities since the turn of the year.

"For the first nine months of 2020, the total number of deaths was less than 100 cases. This year in nine days, we have recorded 71 cases of deaths.

"We are very worried about this development and may Allah SWT protect us all. #Kitajagakita," tweeted Noor Hisham, with the post accompanied by sombre pictures of frontliners in protective suits surrounding deceased patients in body bags.

In recent weeks, the number of new cases has soared with the Health Ministry reporting a record high of 3,027 new Covid-19 cases on Jan 7, while the 16 fatalities reported on Jan 8 was also the highest figure for a single day.

Wong said the people need to believe that if they are diligent in complying with government SOPs, the chances of being infected will be minimal.

"The government has a duty to reinforce this public perception and provide confidence and leadership that we can overcome the pandemic.

"Ministers, legislators and all politicians must walk the talk in complying with SOPs," he added.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak questioned why ministers were still attending public programmes after Mustafa was confirmed positive.

"The Health Ministry should have classified them as close contacts that need to be monitored and [for] mandatory quarantine orders [to be in place] since they had the same meeting with him a few days ago.

"Why could Rina still attend two programmes yesterday? I think it's safer for all ministers to stop all their general programmes for a week," he said. - Mkini