KUALA LUMPUR – It is one thing to be cavalier with the economy, which has resulted in livelihoods destroyed, but giving up salaries for a few months does not make up for the incompetence that has led to Malaysians struggling daily, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, asserting that “enough is enough”.
“But to continue the lies and misdirection while people are dying marks an all-time low for this unelected government that is playing with the rakyat’s lives,” said the PKR president tonight.
He pointed out that another 103 people were reported dead of the coronavirus today, bringing the toll since the start of the pandemic to 3,096.
“So many Malaysians are dealing with deaths from this pandemic, closer to home than ever. How many lives could have been saved if not for the incompetence of the vaccine roll-out?”
Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP, said the “blatant lies” can be seen in relation to vaccines for Selangor.
He called on Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to explain why only 398,029 vaccines were administered in the state by May 31, when his ministry indicated that it received 2.9 million doses by the same date.
Anwar said this is because state health exco Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud revealed that only 615,000 doses were received by the end of last month.
It is contrary to what was mentioned by the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply led by Khairy, he said.
The opposition leader said the federal government only relented to allow the private sector to participate in the vaccine roll-out – allowing for the direct purchase of vaccines – after being criticised, and due to the increasing number of deaths.
He said this gives rise to speculation on “hidden hands” involved in profiting from the vaccination drive, while ordinary folk dice with death.
“Never in my years in politics have I seen such incompetence, arrogance and downright cruelty from a sitting government,” said the veteran politician in a statement to The Vibes.
He said the matter is not a “political game” or about keeping jobs as ministers.
We need clarity, we need purposeful leadership. Not pretenders trying to act smart as more people die and many more lose their livelihood. Enough! We need changes, and we need changes now.”
Deaths could have been avoided
In a special address on Facebook this evening, Anwar said the number of deaths from Covid-19 would not have been as high as in the past few days had vaccines arrived earlier, like the government had promised.
With the country recording more than 100 virus fatalities over the last two days, he said it would not have reached this point had vaccines been administered swiftly to Malaysians in the months of March, April and May.
“So, I want to know, who is responsible for this? The government? The ministers? Because there are uncles, elder brothers or younger siblings who have died, and this could be avoided if the vaccines had come earlier.
“But because of squabbles that took so much time, and tussles for contracts that we don’t know about, the situation has come to this.”
Both Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and Khairy last month said Phase 3 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme could be delayed due to a lack of global vaccine supplies.
During his address, Anwar slammed the government over what he said are late approvals for private hospitals and state governments to purchase jabs and carry out vaccinations.
We have been asking about this for six months. Give them space and opportunity to order (vaccines) because the (federal) government is slow in doing so and wants to control everything.
“We also want to know, to be sure, how many vaccines have been ordered, and from where and at what costs?
“Give immediate approvals and cut all the unnecessary rules, while easing the acquisition of vaccines.”
Anwar lamented the issues that have emerged with contact-tracing app MySejahtera, which he said have slowed down efforts to vaccinate Malaysians.
“If we get the vaccines, let them be distributed and applied. There have been many countries able to do this, and Malaysia is not in a lowly state unless the leadership is not responsible.”
Earlier in his address, Anwar said the government should carry out more screenings, in line with the high number of cases reported each day.
He referred to several projections showing the number of reported infections being lower when screenings are reduced.
Also, he said, the government must provide more data to the public, and explain the details and projections for the current lockdown.
Anwar noted that forecasts showed that it may take the country 1½ months to reduce its daily caseload to the 4,000 level.
He added that it may take until September or October for daily infections to come down to 1,250.
Anwar said the government must use more detailed approaches to tackle the pandemic, as the situation differs from one state to the next, while the explanation for its decisions must be given in a way that does not confuse the public. – The Vibes, June 3, 2021
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