Groups issue 15 demands for better Covid management

 

Amid reports of increased pressure on the public health care system, a group of NGOs has raised 15 demands for the government to better manage the Covid-19 pandemic and assist those who have been affected.

Coming together as Tindak, the groups form a multiracial grassroots initiative to highlight the voices of frontliners, to support the operation of government hospitals, and uphold the rights of migrants and refugees across racial or religious lines.

The #Tindak15 demands are as follows:

1. Build new ICUs near government hospitals within two to four weeks, in cooperation with the private sector.

2. Prepare a plan for transferring healthcare workers from state to state safely.

3. Mobilise GPs to monitor Covid patients at home via video. Stage 3-5 patients must be sent to the hospital immediately.

4. Decentralise fair vaccine distribution to all, and involve GPs, private hospitals, and all government health units.

5. Implement a "traffic light" MCO system with clear categories and SOPs, that is enforced with no double standards.

6. Publish all Covid-19 data and statistics transparently straight from the source, including the list of companies allowed to operate, with no censorship or manipulation.

7. Implement a National Ventilation Plan to reduce Covid-19 airborne transmission.

8. Protect whistleblower frontliners and provide job security for all healthcare frontliners.

9. Cash transfers of RM 2,000 for all B70 (bottom 70 percent of income earners) households. Additional cash transfer of RM200 for those under 18/disabled/elderly.

10. Make available a full, unconditional, automatic moratorium on all classes of loans for at least the next six months, with no compounding of interest.

11. Expand the eligibility and coverage period for the wage subsidy programme and employment insurance scheme, and include protection for all informal sector workers.

12. Assistance for SMEs in the form of zero percent interest loans, and RM2 billion in direct rescue grants for SMEs and microenterprises.

13. Moratorium on rent for all government-owned residential and commercial buildings.

14. Fund the above measures by reprioritising expenditure to health, economic aid, and education, increasing debt ratios if necessary and pursuing comprehensive tax reforms.

15. Form an action committee to implement the Emergency Action Plan (Health, Economy, Education), with at least 40 percent civil society representation.

The Tindak action committee comprises:

• Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim)
• Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)
• Jaringan Rakyat Terindas (Jerit)
• Projek #BangsaMalaysia
• Borneo Komrad
• Projek Wawasan Rakyat
• Undi18
• Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia

Earlier today, a group of MPs and activists lodged police reports against Health Minister Dr Adham Baba and other relevant ministers for their "negligence" in handling the worsening Covid-19 pandemic. - Mkini