KUALA LUMPUR – Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has hit back at the Selangor government over its claim that the Health Ministry has stopped sharing data with the state, hampering efforts to contain the coronavirus.
Responding to Selangor Task Force for Covid-19 (STFC) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad’s allegation, the health director-general said the former minister wants granular data.
He expressed concern that Dr Dzulkefly would share it with the press, when the ministry does not release raw data in any state.
Dr Noor Hisham told The Vibes that the ministry first analyses raw data before making it public.
“He (Dr Dzulkefly) claims public health intervention. All such intervention is done by the federal and state Health Departments.
“We (ministry) have not placed the responsibility on the state, but they can help lead the public (in efforts to fight Covid-19).”
Asked to confirm whether the ministry has never shared granular data since the pandemic began, he pointed to Selangor’s Selangkah contact-tracing app.
Dr Noor Hisham said the app’s integration falls under a private company, but MySejahtera, which is used by the federal government, is under the ministry.
“For the Health Ministry, all data is confidential, but the data (in Selangkah) can be used by the company.
“Where is the assurance of confidentiality? Plus, who pays? Lots of fundamental issues.”
Dr Dzulkefly today confirmed a report by Malaysiakini, quoting sources, that said STFC no longer receives granular data from the ministry, affecting Selangor’s efforts to stem Covid-19.
Dr Noor Hisham said there is no need to integrate the two apps as MySejahtera has already recorded more than 20 million users.
MySejahtera has also been gazetted under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, he said.
“I don’t play politics, but these are the facts.”
He added that it is not the state government’s responsibility to conduct surveillance and contact tracing, and oversee Covid-19 quarantine centres.
“(These are) all done by the state Health Department. Better coordination with the state health office is important.”
He cited the confusion arising from the Utama cluster, where the number of infected individuals was disputed.
“For smooth coordination and messaging, we need one source of health data.
“Otherwise, with state-released data, we (ministry) would not be in the know, and worse, if we release contradicting (statements) with the state. The public will be confused.” – The Vibes, October 19, 2020
