Malaysia

Frontliner vaccination list ‘neglects’ 65 Penang senators

Lawmakers raise question on why Health DG has stopped providing daily media briefings on the pandemic

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 22 Apr 2021 5:27PM

Frontliner vaccination list ‘neglects’ 65 Penang senators
Several senators say that Dewan Negara caucus chairman Datuk Razali Idris wrote to Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on their vaccination status, asking for them to be considered as frontliners as they deal with a lot of people on a daily basis. – The Vibes file pic, April 22, 2021

by Ian McIntyre

GEORGE TOWN – It looks like 65 senators have been left out in the vaccination list for frontliners, running contrary to the government’s decision to inoculate most politicians in the country.

A few senators, who declined to be named, shared with The Vibes a letter written this month by Dewan Negara caucus chairman Datuk Razali Idris to Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on the senators’ vaccination status.

In the letter, Razali had asked Noor Hisham to consider senators as frontliners as they deal with a lot of people on a daily basis.

Currently, there are 70 senators, of which some are serving in the cabinet, such as Deputy Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Guandee Kohoi.

Meanwhile, a senator from the northern region voiced his concern that the country seems to be losing its war against Covid-19 as more cases have emerged recently despite the ongoing vaccination campaign.

The senator also questioned why Dr Noor Hisham has stopped providing daily media briefings on the pandemic.

“(Dr) Noor Hisham needs to be positioned as a main figure in fighting this pandemic as he has earned the trust of the Malaysians following his poise and knowledge of the virus last year.

“Now, we have a renewal of the health crisis as the cases continue to rise,” he said. – The Vibes, April 22, 2021

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