ALOR STAR – Kedah’s PAS government must deploy more of its own resources instead of relying on federal authorities in the fight against Covid-19, especially now that the state has one of Malaysia’s highest caseloads, said DAP’s Tan Kok Yew.
The state party chairman said the country’s third Covid-19 wave is impacting Kedah a lot more than the outbreaks in March and June.
“If the mutated virus strain is more infectious, it means that the state needs to do more instead of relying on the practices used during the initial waves.”
The Derga assemblyman said it is the responsibility of reps, local councils and community leaders to disseminate facts and boost awareness on the disease.
He called on local councils to step up operations to sanitise public places and schools, adding that the private sector should be roped in for health campaigns.
Kedah has recorded 1,653 infections with six deaths so far.
Even though most of the state’s fresh cases are within the prison complex here, said Tan, the virus will spread in the community if left unchecked.
The most-affected districts are also those that contribute greatly to the state economy, such as Kuala Muda, Sg Petani, Kota Setar, Baling and Langkawi.
“It will affect the state’s economy and scare away badly needed investors and tourists.”
State public health exco Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman of PAS acknowledged that the state is struggling with Covid-19, but stressed that the main responsibility of keeping the disease in check lies with Putrajaya.
The third wave is seeing a more contagious strain of the virus, he said, but since infections are largely among the prison population, the authorities are fairly confident that the chain of transmission can be broken using targeted lockdowns.
“What the state needs is total compliance with the standard operating procedures, and public cooperation with the authorities.” – The Vibes, October 12, 2020
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