KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysians have slammed Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah over his tweets, after the country yesterday logged its highest daily Covid-19 toll yet at 4,029 cases.
Dr Noor Hisham, in a tweet, urged Malaysians to stay home.
“If we do not get this MCO right, the worst is yet to come. A daily reminder to all ‘please stay at home’. Stay home and stay safe.”
A follow-up post read: “I wonder are you all listening to the daily messages to stay at home? Self discipline and self regulation is the key.”
His tweets did not sit well with netizens, with many saying they have been complying with the standard operating procedures for months, but there appears to be double standards for politicians and VIPs.
Twitter user @Simple_Peasant1 said: “You don’t get off the hook because the rakyat don’t follow regulations. You don’t even bother to enforce.”
Another said Dr Noor Hisham has failed to use his power and influence to advise politicians.
“He has power. He has influence and a duty to the nation. It seems like he is only brave enough to advise and blame the rakyat. But when politicians misbehave, he closes his eyes. There were times he backed them up. It’s tiring with all these double standards,” said @jiwakencang.
This sentiment was shared by @esKahn: “That’s an unfair outburst, don’t you think? Our frustrations come from having to comply at great costs – but pay the price when politicians and vvips don’t. Also, it’s frustrating when you blame us & keep mum when it comes to them.”
User @amuse_guele, in a reply to Dr Noor Hisham’s tweet, said staying at home has resulted in her loss of income since March last year.
“I’ve been staying home for almost a year, following every SOP. I leave home only for groceries or visits to the wet market. Even then I am very cautious, buy in bulk so that I don’t have to leave my house unless absolutely necessary. I’ve not had an income since March 2020.”
During the implementation of the various iterations of the movement control order since last year, VIPs have been caught flouting health and safety rules.
In July, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali was heavily criticised for not observing the 14-day home quarantine after his return from Turkey.
Following public backlash, he said he was fined RM1,000.
Despite a police investigation, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun in October decided not to charge Khairuddin, citing insufficient evidence.
During the lockdown in April, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali and Perak exco Razman Zakaria were photographed having lunch with at least 20 people in Perak.
The duo later apologised, and Dr Noor Azmi deleted the photo from his social media accounts after public criticism. No further action was taken against him. – The Vibes, January 17, 2021
