KUALA LUMPUR – The government’s vaccination drive could have been implemented much faster had it not been for the existence of red tape at multiple levels.
In a condemnation of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna) expressed his bemusement at some of the decisions taken by the government in executing the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
In particular, he criticised the decision not to immediately vaccinate individuals who have been tested for Covid-19 or those who have just completed their quarantine at government facilities.
“When people go for testing and are found negative, they are not immediately vaccinated and are allowed to just go straight home. By right, they should be given a dose of the vaccine. At least, they will be protected.
“But no, they have to be called in again (to be inoculated). This is especially difficult for those staying in the villages,” he said at today’s Dewan Rakyat special sitting.
“Those who are held at quarantine centres after 14 days should also be vaccinated before they go back home.”
Shafie said the government’s refusal to rope in the private sector to assist in the vaccination drive from the start is equally perplexing.
“Too much red tape in the country,” he said.
Shafie also questioned the decision to impose a nationwide lockdown, and not a targeted one, given how Covid-19 cases only showed spikes in certain states and districts.
He accused the government of lacking wisdom in managing the pandemic.
“Cases show an increase in factories in Shah Alam, for instance, but the whole of Perlis is locked down. If someone has diabetes, don't chop off his head, but just cut off his leg.”
The Warisan president said that with all that has happened, Malaysia's problems with handling the pandemic today can only be attributed to the government. – The Vibes, July 26, 2021
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