Focus on Sabah’s Covid-19 response, not emergency rule: MMA

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the federal government to speed up the channelling of emergency funds and related aid to Sabah, which is in dire need of assistance to fight Covid-19, instead of declaring a national emergency.

MMA pesident Prof Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy, in a statement today, said there is no need to declare an emergency, and that Putrajaya should instead provide much-needed aid to Sabah, to prevent a collapse of the state’s healthcare system.

“Now is the time for scientific, practical and coordinated solutions to address the Covid-19 situation in the country, and not the time for political squabbles, which have not improved the situation in any way.”

Every minute’s delay in aiding Sabah puts the entire nation at risk of disaster, and this could go down as one of Malaysia’s darkest chapters, he warned.

“The widespread community transmission of Covid-19 may be rapidly escalating.

“The daily numbers reported may be much lower than the actual numbers, considering the delays in reporting test results, contact tracing and the isolation of infected individuals.”

He said most Sabah hospitals are nearing maximum capacity, and that frontliners are on the verge of throwing in the towel due to fatigue, stress and manpower shortage.

More health workers are needed, he said, proposing that the government consider deploying medical personnel from states with low coronavirus numbers to Sabah.

“Cases are expected to continue to be high in Sabah as a backlog of test results is being cleared. A boost from the government is urgently needed to address the issue of limited testing capacity, including by engaging the private sector and interstate resources.

“The delay in testing turnover severely affects the system’s ability to trace close contacts and isolate infected individuals.”

He said Sabah needs all the help it can get in terms of personal protective equipment, medical equipment and financial aid for healthcare.

“An increase in hospital bed strength and testing capacity is also urgently needed. Unlike the peninsula, Sabah has only nine public hospitals, and access to public healthcare for many affected Sabahans can be a challenge due to the state’s vast land area, remote locations and unforgiving terrain.

“We strongly appeal to all leaders, regardless of political affiliation, and the whole nation to come together for Sabah and do our best.” – Bernama, October 25, 2020