Guan Eng slams Penang govt over vaccine shortage

 

The PPV at Dewan Millennium in Kepala Batas is among four in the state that have been closed due to the vaccine shortage. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: Former chief minister Lim Guan Eng is upset with the Penang government for failing to speak up on the shortage of vaccines in the state following the closure of vaccination centres (PPVs) due to a lack of supplies.

He said state officials could not afford to be silent on the matter, otherwise they could be labelled as “no different from the federal government”.

Lim said the vaccines are crucial at a time when Penang was breaking its record number of daily Covid-19 infections, with more than 1,000 cases each day. Meanwhile, the vaccine demand is at “desperate” levels.

The DAP secretary-general also asked about the whereabouts of eight million Sinovac vaccines which were pledged to the state this month.

“Lack of transparency and accountability, as well as poor governance, are among the causes this PN government under Muhyiddin Yassin failed.

“In contrast to the federal government, the state government must show what transparency and accountability can do for the interests of the people.

“Pakatan Harapan elected representatives must speak up boldly to make up for state government officials who have failed to perform,” he said in a statement.

On a brighter note, Lim said one of the private PPVs in Juru – currently, the major contributor of Covid-19 cases in the state – will resume services from tomorrow. He said the fate of other PPVs which had to be shuttered is yet to be known.

“PPVs facing vaccine shortages are encouraged to complain to their local PH elected representatives who will speak up to resolve the problem. For too long, PH elected representatives have relied on internal channels to no avail,” he said.

On Saturday, the Penang health department announced that four public PPVs would be closed due to the vaccine shortage – the Balik Pulau sports complex, Balai Rakyat Bayan Baru, Pesta fairgrounds in Sungai Nibong and Dewan Millennium in Kepala Batas.

Those scheduled to receive their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine between Aug 15 and 19 have now been rescheduled to Aug 22 to 26. All are advised to check their new appointment dates on the MySejahtera app.

There are 103 vaccination centres across the state, with 58 of them being private clinics. - FMT