GEORGE TOWN – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reiterated his call for Putrajaya to engage more health experts to aid in efforts to combat the pandemic.
“I suppose the government is doing its best. But there are other things that they should look at. A panel of doctors should be set up to advise the government," he said in a statement today.
“The virus can plague the world for a long time. The rich countries should cease spending hundreds of billions on ways to kill people.
“Their best scientists should study and develop ways to combat the pandemic. At the same time, researchers who play around with viruses, bacteria and chemicals should be controlled to avoid accidental or deliberate spillage into the systems.”
He said that in the last 13 days, the number of new cases reported has above 2,000 daily, with only one day seen where the increase in caseloads was slightly below the given figure.
“The situation is serious. But the declaration of emergency has not made the numbers any less. Certainly, Kelantan has become worse.
“In India, the new cases have gone beyond 300,000 a day. There is a shortage of oxygen and patients are dying because of lack of oxygen. This is not happening in Malaysia, not yet at least. But we need to be sure it will not happen.”
Dr Mahathir warned that if the fourth wave hits Malaysia, the overworked frontline staff may not be able to cope, and the hospitals may not have enough beds.
“If the numbers shoot up again to 4,000 plus a day, and it has done so before, would we be able to handle it? Treatment of serious cases are complex and dependent on the best support devices.”
He said proper lockdowns like in the first four weeks of the pandemic were effective.
“The economic and social costs are huge. People lose jobs, have no income and no food even. The government says it spent RM600 billion. We don’t really know how the money was spent.
“But people were allowed to have Bazaar Ramadan because the demand for them is great during fasting. It is a chance for people to make some money. I am sure the Kelantan spike is due to crowds and mass disregard for the standard operating procedures (SOPs).”
Dr Mahathir also urged for food kitchens to be set up in critical localities and it should be delivered to the homes to avoid crowds rushing for food.
He encouraged digitalisation and online shopping to substitute traditional retail activities and for factories to migrate into automation to reduce dependence on cheap labour.
“The pandemic can only be curbed if all SOPs are strictly followed. Private hospitals must be allowed to vaccinate. Vaccines such as Sputnik V and some Chinese vaccines should be approved.” – The Vibes, April 27, 2021
