KUALA LUMPUR – Dr Kelvin Yii (Bandar Kuching-PH) said his heart broke after reading news about frontliners wanting to contract Covid-19 just to get a 14-day break as they will have to undergo quarantine.
In the Dewan Rakyat today, he said this is a serious issue and urged the government to allocate a significant amount of money to strengthen the nation’s mental healthcare system.
“We know that frontliners are under immense pressure because of the pandemic.
“We have to allocate an amount, not only to strengthen the mental healthcare system, but also to hire more psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and others.”
Yii also urged the government to provide fiscal support to the B40 group who have lost their jobs.
“The government must strengthen support in all aspects, such as providing the B40 group with oximeters, self-test kits, thermometers, and masks.
“The government needs to increase Covid-19 testing and a national test strategy must be established, especially when the nation is transitioning from the pandemic phase to an endemic one.
“In order for this strategy to work, the government must reduce the price of self-test kits and if possible, make it less than RM10.”
He also suggested that incentives be given to encourage the people to submit their Covid-19 self-test kit results via the MySejahtera app.
Earlier today, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said an additional RM45 billion is needed in the Covid-19 fund, and proposed an increase to RM110 billion. – The Vibes, October 11, 2021