GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government has been taken to task over the state’s continued surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths.
State Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong in a statement named four individuals whom he said must answer for the health crisis, which has raged for over a year.
“This is despite the state being among the earliest to have initially contained the coronavirus.”
The four people named are Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, health exco Dr Norlela Ariffin, state emergency response head and welfare exco Phee Boon Poh, and state-federal Covid-19 coordinator Steven Sim.
“It is unsettling that we are now discussing Penang’s Covid-19 deaths, which rank among the top in the country. What has happened?” said Oh.
Over the past two weeks, Penang’s virus death rate hit 17.5 per 100,000 people, the highest in the country.
“This data is sad. What is the Penang government doing? Why are lives ruined?” said Oh.
He said as of 11.59pm on Monday, there were 22 new deaths in Penang, far more than the six recorded in Kedah and one in Perlis.
“And, only Penang had three brought-in-dead cases.”
Penang has seen 57,959 Covid-19 cases, with 1,164 succumbing to the disease and 9,895 still active.
“Innocent lives are lost. How should the state government be held accountable? And how should it turn the tide? These four persons in charge of Covid-19 in Penang must explain to the people of Penang,” said Oh.
He said Dr Norlela must take full responsibility for the delay in setting up vaccination centres (PPVs).
“In addition, although the federal government has allocated funds to the state government, why do some PPVs still need NGOs to pay their rent?
“Many privately owned halls have applied to set up PPVs, but they have been rejected. Dr Norlela must come clean about all of this.”
Although Phee was appointed chairman of the emergency response unit, he has failed to yield improvement in the pandemic fight, added Oh.
“Sim went to the Penang field hospital only to show off and flatter the federal government by praising them and distributing care packages. It is disgusting.”
He said Chow has adopted a passive attitude in the virus battle, leading to the spike in cases.
“Even after DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng sidestepped Chow and sent his confidant Sim to connect with the federal government, nothing has changed.”
He called on Pakatan Harapan to be concerned about the lives of Penangites and contain the pandemic at all costs. – The Vibes, September 23, 2021
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