KUALA LUMPUR – Recommendations prepared by a Covid-19 advisory group led by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be submitted to the Perikatan Nasional administration to help it better manage the pandemic.
In a video message posted on his Facebook page yesterday, Anwar said the newly established group, comprising Dr Wan M. Hasni, Dr Azman Hussain, Dr Mohamad Salmi Mohd Sohod, Dr Fahmi Ngah, Dr Helmi Zakaria and Subang MP Wong Chen, has briefed him on their findings, which will be presented to the bipartisan committee on the emergency today.
“Under the office of the opposition leader, I have assembled a Covid-19 advisory group of distinguished medical and data science experts, and instructed them to prepare a comprehensive and objective review of the government’s pandemic policies.
“We are very concerned about the dramatic rise in Covid-19 cases, and reports that the healthcare system is reaching its capacity to combat the pandemic in some parts of the country.”
The sudden increase in infections suggests that the PN government’s response, particularly under the emergency, has been a complete failure, and that the continued implementation of poorly designed and executed movement control order (MCO) policies will lead to more cases and deaths, he said.
As such, said the Port Dickson MP, the recommendations include the transparent sharing of Covid-19 data, bringing in subject-matter experts to implement creative ways to manage the pandemic, developing targeted and nuanced lockdown measures, and ending the emergency and resuming Parliament.
The government’s policy decisions could have and should have been debated in Parliament. While PN claimed that suspending Parliament is necessary so that the government can focus on fighting the pandemic, the prime minister’s arrogance has proven the contrary.
“The absence of accountability, transparency and collaborative thinking is directly responsible for the failed policy decisions leading us into the dark days the country now faces.”
Analysis from the advisory group was derived from well-respected public data sources, including Johns Hopkins University, Imperial College, Oxford University, Apple and Google, he said.
He added that the group remains unable to access data from local sources, as the Health Ministry refuses to share anonymised, granular data on the coronavirus crisis.
“This lack of transparency is a major obstacle preventing local experts from understanding and confronting the pandemic effectively.
“As I said earlier, the government is hogging the vaccine procurement process. The government is likewise hogging data on the pandemic and preventing anyone outside a small group to conduct analysis.
In other words, we were able to see the problems using public data sources. But our hands are tied behind our backs in trying to develop solutions that are tailored to Malaysia. Nevertheless, we have a clear idea of what needs to be done going forward.”
Despite imposing one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, said Anwar, Malaysia’s Covid-19 cases continue to increase compared to countries where less-stringent social-distancing measures are linked to a decline in infections.
“In other words, the MCO, as it has been implemented, does not effectively reduce the total number of cases. The measures have not been effective in achieving the desired result.”
The PN administration will hopefully take heed of the submitted recommendations, in the interest of protecting all Malaysians, he said. – The Vibes, May 4, 2021
