ALOR STAR – Kedah DAP has offered support to the PAS-led state government in its efforts to contain Covid-19, provided that the state assembly reconvenes.
State DAP liaison chairman and Derga assemblyman Tan Kok Yew told The Vibes that the sitting should not be construed as an attempt to score political points, but will serve as a platform for non-partisan efforts to effectively address the pandemic.
“What happened during the emergency was for all to see. By shutting down the opposition, the authorities hoped to contain the virus, but the opposite happened.
“The government should learn to work with all, as this virus does not care whom it infects.”
DAP can mobilise its machinery to aid vaccination efforts in rural areas, as well as deploy its information machinery to convince more people to register for the jab, he said.
He added that the party can seek help from the private sector on procuring more vaccines.
Kedah has vaccinated just 13% of its estimated 2.2 million population, with only 50% having signed up as of Saturday.
“The numbers are still low in our bid to attain herd immunity,” said Tan.
The state DAP launched a vaccination registration campaign over the weekend that it hopes to share with the state government.
Tan was responding to Kedah’s move not to convene its assembly, despite other states having indicated an interest in holding a hybrid sitting.
Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has said the state legislature will reconvene once Parliament does so.
He added that his administration is not keen to call a session now, as the emergency declared over Covid-19 is in effect until August 1.
Kedah as of yesterday saw a total of 23,280 coronavirus infections.
Sanusi said state assembly sittings are usually held in July or August, but times are different now.
“We will also wait for the latest development on when Parliament should reopen.”
To this, Tan said most legislative sittings, including Parliament, should be held a day after the emergency order expires, as it is in the people’s best interest for their elected representatives to get to work and earnestly fight the pandemic.
The Kedah assembly’s last sitting was held from November 15 to 19 last year, when the state budget was tabled.
It was held with standard operating procedures by the National Security Council and Health Ministry in place. – The Vibes, June 21, 2021
