GEORGE TOWN – A Penang executive councillor has called on Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba to resign if he cannot bring down the Covid-19 infection rates despite the imposition of the second movement control order (MCO) which is supposed to end in the next 48 hours.
“Frankly, there are others (leaders) who can mitigate the cases better, the minister should just resign,” said exco Jagdeep Singh Deo, as the total number of cases reached 215,000 with 760 deaths since the virus spread in the country over 12 months ago.
The Penang DAP deputy chairman said that Malaysians were worried about the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases since the MCO was imposed last month.
He made this observation ahead of the decision by the National Security Council on whether there was a need to extend the MCO or opt for something stricter or impose a targeted and localised lock downs.
“Health is wealth. It supersedes anything else but obviously, there are some who do not think like us so as we are struggling to contain this virus when we should not be doing so in the first place,” said Jagdeep.
Jagdeep told a press conference over Facebook Live that the frontliners are getting disappointed with their inability to flatten the infection curve.
“We are now dealing with an average of between 4,000 and even 5,000 cases a day. Where is the will to reduce the infection rates?” asked Jagdeep.
Jagdeep’s views were echoed by Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit, who said despite the second MCO, the number of cases and deaths kept rising.
“Do not just impose the MCO. The authorities must clearly spell out the standard operating procedures and clamp down on those who continue to defy the new normal.”
Klang MP Charles Santiago said that the country cannot be free from the virus even with the arrival of the vaccines if they do not mitigate the presence of undocumented workers.
“If an illegal contracts the virus, the person may become a super spreader, especially if he or she exists in an underground setting where there is no enforcement and social norms.”
Santiago said that it is time for the authorities to find ways to naturalise the millions of illegals, while giving employers incentives to provide foreign workers with proper housing. – The Vibes, February 2, 2021
