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KUALA LUMPUR – The prime minister and key cabinet members have been urged to make a joint press conference to address speculation on whether a more severe lockdown will be implemented in the Klang Valley or across the country.
Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming in a statement today said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should also allow journalists to ask questions, either in person or virtually, during the proposed press conference.
His advice comes amid widespread speculation that a “lockdown”, either in the Klang Valley or Peninsular Malaysia, may take place soon, especially since the number of new Covid-19 cases exceeded 6,000 yesterday.
“I support what was said yesterday by Selangor Task Force on Covid-19 chairman Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, and emphasised by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, that a lockdown will be acceptable.
“But it must come with other conditions, such as financial assistance to help affected groups, clear announcements and implementation of standard operating procedures, sufficient facilities and equipment for e-learning, and a clear strategy for mass testing and beyond, just to name a few,” said Ong.
“At this press conference, the following ministers must be present with the prime minister to answer detailed questions with regard to the lockdowns – the finance minister, health minister, health director-general, defence minister who is the de facto National Security Council head, human resources minster, international trade and industry minister, home minister and coordinating minister in charge of vaccine procurement and roll-out.”
Ong said journalists should ask as many questions as possible. Among his proposed questions are:
1. What is the plan for mass testing and tracing during such a lockdown? How are we going to isolate and support individuals who test positive during the test-and-trace programme?
2. What is the timeline for approval by the relevant authority (National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency) for vaccines such as Sputnik and Cansino? What documentation is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these vaccines?
3. What is the plan to control outbreaks at factories, which form about half of the existing clusters? What type of accommodation arrangement needs to be changed, especially among foreign workers who are living within the factory area?
4. What is the plan to prevent further outbreaks in prisons and detention centres? Is there any plan to give prisoners and prison officials vaccines in the near future?
5. How can financial assistance be targeted to those who will be most affected by a more severe lockdown, such as small and medium enterprises, as well as the retail and tourism sectors? Will wage subsidies be offered to companies in these sectors?
Ong said the proposed presser is to avoid previous instances of a one-man show press conference followed by subsequent U-turns due to miscommunication between ministers.
“Let’s have a joint press conference by key ministers to convince the rakyat that this Perikatan Nasional government is capable enough to get us out of this pandemic.”
His call came amid the country’s record-high numbers of new Covid-19 cases and death over the past week.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba reportedly said a full MCO may be required in Selangor given the surge of cases in the state.
Despite the almost two-week implementation of MCO 3.0, the set SOPs continue to confuse the people as the government struggles to be consistent in exercising them. – The Vibes, May 20, 2021
