Govt must pay attention to experts on Covid-19 measures
By Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi - January 8, 2021 @ 4:58pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to pay heed to the suggestions and proposals by medical and other experts in its ongoing battle against Covid-19.
Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said while the Health Ministry had done a good job in containing the spread of the virus previously, the existing measures have not been changed or upgraded to take into account the increasing numbers and the heavy toll on the healthcare system.
"While the ministry must be lauded for its previous successes, it must be said that the handling of the crisis has not been commensurate with the severity of the pandemic.
"New thinking must be apparent in dealing with his global curse. While previously, the clusters were among foreign workers or workers in cramped living quarters, this is no longer the case.
“We are now faced with the problem of community transmission of infection and almost every locality has been affected, with some more than others," he said in a statement today.
He said some experts in the field have suggested various alternative approaches that the Health Ministry could and should adopt. However, the ministry, he said, was reticent to accept the suggestions.
The suggestions include reviewing reporting methods, enhance ways of testing, and further strengthen the standard operating procedures (SOP) with severe punishment for those who flout the rules.
"No doubt, there will be pros and cons to every measure that is taken, be it the Movement Control Order (MCO), Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO) or any other new MCO, but the government must take a decision on which to enforce, and be quick about it.
"Already we have lost some valuable time and there is no more time to lose. Let us forget the politicking, the call for fresh elections, the pontificating, the delays and so on," he said.
Lee said when it comes to between saving lives and supporting businesses, the choice is obvious.
"We can overcome economic meltdowns as we had a few times in the past through the judicious application of financial and other fiscal measures.
"(But) when life and limb are under threat, the choice is only one, which is to save lives."
Lee added that while some other countries have already availed themselves with vaccines, Malaysia is still without it.
"Sure, there will always be naysayers and critics and bad publicity in social media, but the government must be resolute in the face of such negativism.
"To delay acting swiftly and with conviction is no longer an option. It is imperative, crucial, and life-saving."