KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is aware that his calls in managing the Covid-19 crisis had angered several quarters, leading him to be labelled “bodoh” (stupid) by them.
Muhyiddin said although some decisions, such as implementing the latest nationwide movement control order (MCO), are not accepted by some individuals, he does not mind them blaming the government or being angry with him in addressing the pandemic.
“They can blame the government and be angry with the prime minister, and that is okay. (Some of the) rakyat are angry, calling the prime minister ‘bodoh’, and I say never mind.
“I can say this on TV, but I know how difficult it is to manage this (pandemic),” he said during an exclusive interview with RTM and Bernama TV tonight.
The interview was co-hosted by Terrence Dass from RTM and Wan Syahrina Wan Ab Rahman from Bernama TV.
Muhyiddin was responding to a question fielded by Wan Syahrina on the MCO and its standard operating procedures (SOPs) that were announced recently, as well as the government’s measures to address related economic and social impacts.
His remark comes as the #KerajaanBodoh and #MuhyiddinOut hashtags are trending on Twitter, with tens of thousands of users using the hashtags.
Muhyiddin said although the decisions are unpopular, the effort to tackle Covid-19 is a shared responsibility.
“If we are ready to accept reality – this is a shared problem. Our approach is not from the government (as a whole), it is a question of society (as a whole).
“All layers of the community must stand shoulder-to-shoulder (in tackling Covid-19), only then can we flatten the Covid-19 curve.”
He said among others, the government has set up numerous quarantine centres, such as the one at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang, and field hospitals nationwide, with tens of thousands of beds to treat Covid-19 patients.
However, the responsibility to take care of their own health lies with the people, he added.
“Adding tens of thousands of beds is meaningless (if people do not observe SOPs).
“Tomorrow, if we raise 20,000 beds, how far are we capable of doing so? We simply cannot do it, even developed countries can’t.”
Muhyiddin said Malaysia is not able to assemble hospitals in the span of days like China, and this is why it is forced to ask the people to help themselves in complying with SOPs.
“We must take care of ourselves. There is a silver lining in all of this. We need to take care of ourselves so that we do not get sick or killed because of our own negligence.”
During the hour-long interview, Muhyiddin said the government did not impose an MCO as strict as the first one as it will have grave consequences on the economy.
Malaysia stands to lose RM2.4 billion a day, he added.
He also insisted that there are no double standards when it comes to SOP compliance, stressing that authorities will take action on any individual who breaks the law.
The purpose of having strict rules during a lockdown is meant to educate the public, not punish them, he added, saying that fines imposed depend on the severity of violations.
On the government’s move to vaccinate the population, Muhyiddin said the Covid-19 shot supply sufficient for the population is scheduled to arrive sooner than expected, adding that it will be possible for the nation to reach herd immunity by the end of the year. – The Vibes, May 23, 2021
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