GEORGE TOWN – DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today lauded the Health Ministry’s appointment of Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim as Penang’s state-federal Covid-19 coordinator.
Conveying the party’s gratitude to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Lim said the appointment is a collaborative effort to stem the state’s rising cases.
“Penang has failed to contend with the rise in infections and deaths. Despite the frontliners doing a magnificent job, they are unable to cope with mounting public anger due to insufficient resources and manpower.
“Public dissatisfaction has also unfairly spilled over to the state government and particularly the Penang health exco (Dr Norlela Ariffin) for being a helpless bystander.
“Penangites are suffering and dying without getting any help from the (Covid-19) assessment centres, no answers to telephone hotlines, no ambulances arriving when called, and insufficient number of ICU (intensive care unit) beds,” Lim said in a statement.
The community spread of Covid-19 is critical, particularly with Penang’s high-density living.
“I wish to commend both Khairy and Chow for realising the gravity of the situation in Penang and accepting my suggestion to break this logjam by appointing Sim as Covid-19 coordinator.
“This can allow us to win this battle against Covid-19 together.
“Sim will have a huge task ahead to try and turn things around.
“With the support from both Khairy and Chow, as well as leveraging the professional expertise of the private medical sector, a revamp on ways to manage the pandemic may (allows us to) succeed.
“Winning the battle against Covid-19 to save lives and livelihoods requires not just common ground, but a whole-of-society effort for public good,” he said. – The Vibes, September 12, 2021
