KUALA LUMPUR – Sabah MPs who raised issues at the ongoing special meeting of the Dewan Rakyat today urged the federal government to decentralise or delegate authority in the administration of health and Covid-19 standard operating procedures at the state and district levels.
Datuk Mohamad Alamin (BN-Kimanis) said uniform SOPs cannot be implemented for all areas of a large state like Sabah.
“There have to be different SOPs for Kota Kinabalu, Beaufort, and Kudat, for example. Uniform SOPs are currently applied.
“I ask the federal government, through the Health Ministry, to have a decentralised policy and help the government and the people facing hardship due to Covid-19,” he said.
Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko-Tuaran) suggested setting up a task force to look into decentralising authority in matters concerning health and education, not only to the state government but also to local governments.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the need for decentralisation in health governance, he said, adding that he felt the federal government should not try to impose its thinking on large states like Sabah and Sarawak.
“Although the federal constitution provides for the federal government to be in charge of health and medical matters, public health falls under the shared or joint list, and the state government also has a role not only in legislation but also governance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) raised the issue of a lack of involvement of government assets to care for patients at low-risk Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centres in the state.
“Most centres in Sabah are unlike those in the peninsula. Some do not have telecommunications lines, while others have to seek sponsors for water filters for the convenience of patients,” she said.
Isnaraissah suggested that each hospital or district health office be given direct funding for contingent costs related to the management of Covid-19 patients. – Bernama, July 27, 2021
