Help rakyat first before meting out punishment, says minister

 

The government should focus on helping the rakyat during the lockdown instead of taking punitive measures against them, said cabinet member Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.

The de facto special functions minister, who is in charge of disaster management, said enforcement agencies must also be given clear directives during the movement control order (MCO).

"You do not punish the rakyat. You must facilitate (first)… The government has to be clear (in its actions).

"Let's say if I am not wearing a mask but I am standing alone in the middle of a field (and) no one else is around me - am I supposed to be issued a fine or not? Things like this must be made clear," he told Malaysiakini during a phone interview on Tuesday.

The Bersatu lawmaker gave the example of a recent incident where the police issued fines to 31 workers for not updating their health status on the MySejahtera application.

The case had since been clarified as a misinterpretation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs), with the National Security Council (NSC) intervening and the compounds cancelled.

"I disagree with punitive measures. I told my colleagues in the cabinet that we should not issue compounds just because people did not update MySejahtera. That is wrong,” said Redzuan.

"We must facilitate (first) before we institute punitive measures. If we want to take action, it must be holistic. We must address all issues before we institute punitive measures.”

Redzuan, who is Alor Gajah MP, holds the portfolio of minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) and oversees the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma).

However, he claimed that despite his portfolio, he was sidelined and no longer invited to the National Security Council (NSC) meetings on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘Dapur Rakyat’

Redzuan also supported the suggestion that the government should help provide basic necessities for those who can't afford to put food on the table during the current full lockdown.

He said this should be done through a targeted approach.

"For example, in red zones where people are not allowed to leave their house (to work), we can mobilise the Civil Defence Force (CDF) to distribute basic items like food and cooking gas, and such.

"In situations where the people cannot cook, then maybe we can initiate what they call Dapur Rakyat, so the people can have decent hot meals.”

A few weeks ago, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in a statement said that some of those being confined at home have no money and food, and suggested the government initiate public kitchens to deliver food to homes.

Following this, an NGO that supported the move called for Redzuan to mobilise the CDF, which is under his portfolio.

CDF has some 10,000 personnel and volunteers who are trained to carry out disaster management and perform humanitarian services. - Mkini