GE15 can wait until pandemic declared over, says KJ

 

Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin at a health department event in Melaka today. He said Malaysia was still a pandemic infected area. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: The next general election can wait a few more months until the Covid-19 pandemic is declared over and the country is officially in the endemic phase, says health minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Speaking at an event in Melaka today, he said Malaysia was still in transition to the endemic phase, and activities such as ceramahs were still not allowed.

“If we want to take care of public health, we have to wait a few more months until we reach the endemic phase. As the health minister, I would be more comfortable (if GE15 is held) then,” he said.

“There is no pressure (for GE15) from the rakyat — it’s more from the politicians.”

He reminded the people that the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act is still being enforced, Utusan Malaysia reported.

Khairy had been asked to comment on Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s repeated push for an early general election, to be held on the grounds that the people’s mandate must be restored.

Asyraf yesterday claimed that the Covid-19 pandemic had ended in Malaysia on May 1 when the government announced the country was entering the endemic phase and the people had already achieved group immunisation.

“Asyraf is my friend, but the facts need to be corrected,” said Khairy. “His statement that the pandemic has ended in Malaysia is not correct. The World Health Organization will announce when Covid-19 is no longer a health emergency of international concern,” he said.

Once that occurs, the health ministry will announce that it will no longer enforce the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act.

“We are being careful as we are still reporting daily Covid-19 cases and there are still waves (of infections),” he noted.

The health ministry said 1,591 new daily Covid-19 cases were reported yesterday, bringing the total cumulative cases to 4,513,631. Five deaths attributed to Covid-19 were reported yesterday, of which two were declared as “brought in dead”.

Khairy said the government will provide free vaccination to children at certain events, such as National Immunisation Day on June 16, following the ending of the national immunisation programme for children on May 31.

“We will open this (vaccination) to those above the age of five. This is a privilege … as some may have missed out, so we will open this again on certain celebrations,” he said.

Free vaccinations will continue to be provided for children who have reached the age of five until Jan 31. - FMT