GEORGE TOWN – Pakatan Harapan’s Covid-19 handling would be far different from Perikatan Nasional’s, said the Penang PKR chairman, with more emphasis placed on protecting the economy and ensuring elections held amid the pandemic strictly abide by health and safety rules.
Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said PH would also extend the loan moratorium until year-end, keeping in mind the heavy financial burden imposed by the virus crisis on Malaysians.
Responding to PAS, which accused PH of playing a part in the virus’ resurgence, he said Covid-19 would have been under control had the PN government not attempted to take over the Sabah administration.
“First, they ousted PH from Kedah. And then, Parti Warisan Sabah lost. Incidentally, both states now have the highest number of infections,” he said after leading the state PKR in donating masks and other personal protective equipment to Penang Prison yesterday.
PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah recently said PN should not be made to bear full blame for the third Covid-19 wave stemming from the September 26 Sabah vote, and that PH components PKR and DAP, too, are responsible.
On the moratorium, Bakhtiar said: “Allow people room to breathe. We also need to boost domestic consumption, so that businesses can stay afloat and jobs are not easily lost.”
The former deputy tourism minister said the hard-hit travel sector needs more attention.
He acknowledged the aid given by the PN government to businesses and people in need, but said it is insufficient given that the disease persists, impacting people’s lives and livelihood.
Bakhtiar said there should be a travel bubble established with countries that have the coronavirus situation under control such as Singapore, which last year accounted for 10 million tourist arrivals in Malaysia.
“We can find a way to entice Singaporeans to visit Malaysia. Even if Singapore does not want us to visit them, we can allow them to come over.”
People moving within the travel bubble must still undergo rapid testing for Covid-19 before they are allowed into the other country, he added.
He said PN has to be innovative to stimulate the pandemic-battered economy and more attentive to the working class, which is most affected by the crisis. – The Vibes, October 12, 2020
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