YOURSAY | Why the need for another Covid-19 task force?

 

YOURSAY | ‘It looks like a knee-jerk reaction by the same bunch who have caused untold misery.’

Putrajaya forms new Covid-19 task force for Klang Valley

Quo Vadis: “The task force has been given the mandate to make quick decisions on behalf of the Health Ministry to mobilise resources to provide relief for the healthcare system," announced Health Ministry deputy director-general (public health) Dr Chong Chee Keong.

The problem, as has been so eloquently pointed out recently by Brigadier General Dr Mohd Arshil Moideen, the management chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces Health Service Division, is the total lack of a direct chain of command.

There have been reports of banging of tables, raised voices among different ministers over policy and day-to-day decisions, flip-flops, last-minute decisions and subsequent restatements and recantations, etc, which have left everyone thoroughly confused and bewildered.

The explanation of Health Minister Dr Adham Baba that the frightening, shocking congestion of reportedly thousands of sick people waiting for attention at Stadium Malawati Covid-19 Assessment Centre (CAC) in Shah Alam was not an everyday affair is totally unacceptable.

It should have never happened. It reflects a total failure of scheduling and proper administrative process being in place. The number of positively infected people at the CAC in Shah Alam is preposterous - a mega failure.

It is amazingly incredible that the suggestion now is to set up a task force "to make quick decisions" and "mobilise resources". How is this lengthening the currently incompetent chain of command by adding another layer, another coterie, going to resolve the lack of overall central control?

Enough is enough, we are not playing cyber games; it is life and death, it is people, not numbers.

If the prime minister cannot take charge of the crisis directly, immediately, effectively and personally, he would serve the country best by stepping down and let someone provide the leadership the country so sorely needs.

An unseen and unheard prime minister, except in staged presentations, is not what the country needs.

Bruclax: Yes, why the need for another task force? We were doing well last year, but now we are in a state of delirium.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for our frontliners. If not for our bungling politicians, we could have fared better in our fight against Covid-19.

Another task force really means jack in light of political developments. What is needed is coordination between the respective ministries, so the left hand knows what the right hand is doing.

There has to be a reassessment of all standard operating procedures in place. What is crystal clear is that the current lockdown is a total failure. The economy is in shambles because of these lockdowns. Countries that have been successful in managing this pandemic have proven this along with other strategies.

We, the rakyat, are just puzzled at the level of incompetence displayed by our leaders. This new task force looks like another knee-jerk reaction by the same bunch who have caused untold misery to the people.

What we need is leadership change of politicians who are mismanaging the war against Covid-19. No task force is going to do this.

Be Healthy and Happy: We have another 125 deaths on Tuesday; 96,236 currently warded; 972 patients in ICU whilst 456 requiring respiratory assistance.

With only 5,990 recoveries against 11,079 new cases, there is a net increase of 5,089 more new cases. It may be too little too late to form a new task force.

As I said before, get all the MPs and state assemblypersons to form a nucleus within their own area. Get the district police and town board to coordinate under the jurisdiction of state health director.

All chief ministers or menteri besar must share 100 percent of the workload, especially in the mobilisation of personnel to those enhanced movement control order (EMCO) areas.

And EMCO must be enforced before those infected could go to other places. In fact, we should find out why some police districts and their district health personnel are so effective in bringing down their Covid cases.

Poppy: This new task force is probably headed by the same people who have failed in fighting Covid-19 for more than a year. What results do you expect?

It is led by the same minister who had a feast while others are told to lock themselves within the four walls of their houses.

Klang Valley needs to be opened to keep its economy chugging. How long can businesses survive with such a long closure? We need experts and professionals to lead and not those who have failed over and over again.

OrangeJaguar9341: Indeed, we need people with expertise, acumen, integrity, courage and leadership on this task force. In other words, no Perikatan Nasional MPs.

What is the point of a new task force or committee or council if the same group of clueless, self-serving politicians sit on them? Enough with the grandstanding and window-dressing, Mr PM.

OCT: This task force needs to speed up the vaccination process so that the rakyat is protected. There should be a dual prone action. Proactive and reactive. MCO doesn't work anymore.

The task force must be clear in its objectives. A person with the right credentials, experience and expertise in crisis management must lead the task force. No more politicians as they don't qualify.

The task force must be prepared to work round the clock and must perform beyond the call of duty. It won't be an easy job but the lives of the rakyat depend on this task force. Let's hope this task force works.

The PN government has over a million civil servants and expertise in all sectors. Most of them are working from home. A good suggestion is to redeploy these people to help out.

In the meantime, keep the politicians out. They are more interested in politics than saving lives.

Put in more teams to speed up the vaccination. Now, it is Selangor that is hard hit. Soon it will be all over Malaysia if the virus cannot be contained. Will the task force be able to handle it?

Be prepared for the worst. Next week is Hari Raya Haji. Let's not have any religious activities or allow inter-district and inter-state travel like Hari Raya Aidilfitri two months ago.

Remember, the worst has yet to come. All the best to the task force. - Mkini