Malaysia continues to receive praise in handling of pandemic

By MAHAIZURA ABD MALIK - July 13, 2020 @ 2:58pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's success and the Health Ministry's response in handling the Covid-19 pandemic continue to receive praise from the international community.

Joining the list of people and groups commending the efforts by Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and his team to flatten the pandemic curve in the country included one Julie Miller from the United States (US) who identified herself as a friend, colleague and fellow endocrine surgeon to Dr Noor Hisham.

Miller took to her social media yesterday and praised Malaysia, Dr Noor Hisham and Malaysians in general for coming together to break the infection chain of the deadly virus.

"A tale of two countries: Malaysia is an example of what happens when leaders listen to science and the population complies and supports their leadership.

"My friend and colleague, endocrine surgeon (Datuk Dr Noor) Hisham Abdullah, is the director-general of Health in Malaysia, and has directed their pandemic response. He made hard decisions early, even before Malaysia had its first case.

"Strict border control, testing, tracing, and isolation, open, clear and consistent messaging, daily press conferences, and evidence and fact-based decisions. He has worked day and night since January. Elected officials have listened and implemented his advice," said Miller on her Facebook account.

She went on to praise Malaysians and the people in the country for adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) enforced by the government throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO), Conditional MCO and Recovery MCO by wearing face masks as well as practising good hygiene to protect themselves from getting infected by the virus.

"As a result, Malaysia, a densely populated multicultural Asian country, has done very well, and Dr (Noor) Hisham is being hailed as a national hero. Science, not politics.

"Meanwhile poor (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease director) Dr (Anthony) Fauci is getting death threats. And look at the USA.

"I am at the same time very proud of my wise, and hard-working friend and his fellow citizens, and very sad for my home country," she added.

Her social media posting was also shared by Dr Noor Hisham on his official Facebook account, which had garnered about 25,000 likes and over 1,000 shares as of 2.15pm today.

"We should count our blessings and our success is the collective efforts of everyone," said Dr Noor Hisham.