Health DG defends team effort after Umno veep calls for a new 'czar'

 

In light of a call for someone new to steer the country’s Covid-19 response in a new direction, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdulah has explained that his leadership is both based on and limited by collective decisions.

Yesterday, Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Putrajaya ought to hand over the reins to someone with “fresh ideas and strategies” to combat the pandemic.

While he did not call for Noor Hisham’s removal, Khaled proposed that a new “czar” and a new inter-ministry approach were needed. He stopped short of naming a candidate for this role.

This, he opined, was because the Covid-19 situation had not improved since the first movement control order (MCO) was imposed last March.

Asked about the politician’s comments, Noor Hisham clarified that his role was to represent the Health Ministry’s many experts.

“I am the face of the ministry and I represent the views of all experts in the ministry.

“From the laboratories (to the) public health and specialists in the hospitals.

“Each morning we convene to update and discuss all issues and challenges, and we share (this) with the National Security Council (NSC) and the public,” he said.

Mohamed Khaled Nordin

Noor Hisham also stressed that the ministry’s role was limited to advising the executive.

“From day one, we have advised and made suggestions to the NSC.

“Collective decisions are made by the Prime Minister (Muhyiddin Yassin) and the council,” he said.

Noor Hisham has held regular press conferences that have been broadcasted as well since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Khaled was formerly the menteri besar of Johor but he does not hold any elected or government positions at present. - Mkini