Scorn for DPM, ‘missing’ Rina as MoH picks up slack to identify pandemic’s new orphans

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysians are unimpressed that the Health Ministry (MoH) is being tasked with another responsibility amid the pandemic – identifying children orphaned by Covid-19 parents, a duty they argued should be left to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. 

Taking to social media, many users slammed the decision made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday, saying MoH is already stretched to its limits while combatting the pandemic. 

Ismail Sabri had instructed Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and his ministry to list the names of children who lost their parents to the virus to ensure they obtain the necessary help from the government.

Netizens were quick to point out that this duty should instead be passed to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, which is led by Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun and is traditionally tasked with ensuring an effective support system as well as safeguarding children’s welfare, among others. 

The Vibes is attempting to contact Rina on whether her ministry will be taking over the job or will assist in the effort.

In a tweet, user @datukhensem said: “MoH has already so much to do. They are already half dead trying to conduct contact tracings, now they are being told to do this. This is Rina Harun’s job.”

The tweet has garnered more than 7,300 retweets and 5,100 likes as of the time of writing. 

Hundreds of users also shared a similar sentiment, as they vent their disagreements at the move, the majority questioning the function and role of Rina’s ministry. 

@rb_kjkims posted: “This is Rina Harun’s job!! A whole welfare ministry to coordinate every measure needed to assist citizens, including helping orphaned children”.

WTF?? This is Rina Harun's JOB!! A whole welfare ministry to coordinate every measure needed to assist citizens INCLUDING HELPING ORPHANED CHILDREN. Our new DPM is ??? https://t.co/7D58F4BFNu

— ? UDO INN ? 디오 '공감' Empathy ? (@rb_kjikms) July 23, 2021

Another user @SyuhadaShud said: “You know what @RinaMohdHarun, by now, a good PR team should’ve captured this issue and you should’ve stepped forward volunteering, because it’s under your portfolio.”

“Desperate times need fast action. Drop any gimmick, if there’s any,” she said.

You know what @RinaMohdHarun , by now, a good PR team should’ve captured this issue and you should’ve step forward volunteering because it’s under your portfolio. Desperate time need fast action. Drop any gimmicks plan, if there’s any. https://t.co/0kyGmBnttH

— Syuhada ???? (@SyuhadaShud) July 23, 2021

@hadiaahhh123 commented: “This is KPWPM’s (the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry’s) duty. MoH has been working off the clock for almost two years, suddenly they are piled with the workload of another ministry.”

Ni tugas KPWKM kot. Dah la dkt 2 tahun KKM keja mcm nk rak. Tibe nk longgok lg keje kementerian lain. https://t.co/L8IMuaFgfy

— DUST.IN.THE.WIND. (@hadiaahhh123) July 22, 2021

Another user @CuratorKata questioned if Malaysia only has one existing ministry, with all the work being ostensibly passed on to MoH.

Malaysia ni ada satu kementerian je ke? Tak cukup banyak masalah dah ke untuk KKM nak settle? Semua pun suruh diorang kawtim. Mana JKM? Siapa jaga hal ehwal dalam negeri? Siapa jaga hal wanita dan keluarga? Mana kementerian ekonomi dan finance? Kenapa tak reti work together? https://t.co/XV3O8ddwXJ

— ? (@CuratorKata) July 22, 2021

“Where’s the Welfare Department? Who takes the case of internal affairs? Who takes care of women and family issues? Where are the finance and economic ministries? Don’t you all know how to work together?” he posted. 

There were also at least a dozen other comments who poked fun at Rina, who they said was busy carrying out her duty as a Foodpanda rider. 

This is in reference to an official production video by Rina’s team portraying her delivering Hari Raya delicacies to an old couple in a village while donning a Foodpanda uniform, which has since been widely criticised. – The Vibes, July 23, 2021