KUALA LUMPUR – The Covid-19 advisory group led by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has found that the current emergency ordinance has not been effective in tackling the pandemic.
The PKR president said the group has conducted an analysis of studies done by some of the world’s leading institutions and think-tanks, and found that the country’s current Covid-19 situation is a “serious” concern.
Malaysia has almost 4,000 cases a day, he noted, with local transmissions occurring at a similar ratio as those in India, which has been recording an average of 35,000 Covid-19 cases a day.
In arguing his case, Anwar referred to a recent susceptible, exposed, infectious and removed model of daily observed and forecast cases between September 12 last year and May 31 this year by the Health Ministry.
“The government, at one time, made the decision to implement the emergency to thwart and prevent (infections), but the studies conducted have shown otherwise.
“The emergency is not effective, as it is apparent that the numbers (of infections) have risen since it began.”
The Port Dickson MP said this during his Bicara Covid-19: Pandangan Ketua Pembangkang programme, which was streamed on his official Facebook page.
The government’s measures, such as imposing movement control orders and cooperating with the private sector, to prevent an increase in infections can be done without the need for an emergency, he said.
Yesterday, Anwar said the advisory group will present recommendations to the government on ways to handle the pandemic.
The group, comprising Dr Wan M. Hasni, Dr Azman Hussain, Dr Mohamad Salmi Mohd Sohod, Dr Fahmi Ngah, Dr Helmi Zakaria and Subang MP Wong Chen, had presented the findings to the bipartisan committee on the emergency yesterday.
The group’s study found that Malaysia performed well in the preliminary months of the pandemic, Anwar said, with a low death toll despite the increase in Covid-19 cases.
However, he added, based on observations of cases in states such as Selangor and Kelantan, the numbers are “worrying”.
“What is the complication of Malaysia using the experience of other countries (to address the problem)?
“Firstly, the mobility of Malaysian residents is high as there is a gap between the places where they live and work.
“If we look at the urban poor, those who have day jobs or run stalls among the B40 group face difficulties in carrying out their duties due to too many restrictions.
“The matter can be addressed if there is no wide-reaching restriction, replaced, instead, with one that centres on places where the disease is spreading, and other stern action to ensure the wearing of masks and social distancing.”
He said the closure of Ramadan bazaars and businesses run by the poor is not a “sane” way of dealing with the pandemic as it makes their lives more difficult.
Authorities must instead ensure entry and exit points of the bazaars are controlled properly so the markets are not too crowded, he added.
Anwar added that another problem faced by the country is the implementation of its immunisation programme, which he said is lagging behind certain countries, such as India and Indonesia, while other nations, like the United States and United Kingdom, are leading the world in terms of vaccinating their populations.
“This also relates to our preparation and lateness in acquiring the vaccines, and lack of full transparency.” – The Vibes, May 5, 2021
