KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya cannot not be given high marks for its efforts in trying to contain the third wave of Covid-19 as compared to its successes previously, former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told The Vibes.
“It’s not a binary answer of yes or no. I would take it in all fairness to the Health Ministry that it must be seen from two perspectives.
“One from the hospital-base and curative care-base – to what extent it has been strained.
“And the other with respect to public health – how strained and stressed our medical facilities are. This is best reflected in Sabah.
“Sabah was not prepared for the Covid-19 surge despite the election. Therefore, I think, to a large extent you can’t give (the government) high marks for that,” said Dzulkefly.
He stopped short of saying that the federal government has lost control of the situation, but added that it did better during the first and second Covid-19 wave.
He also said judging the government’s pandemic handling should include the impact on people’s finances, livelihoods and the national economy
Meanwhile, he said the Sabah state election, which was triggered by a confidence challenge by former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, was a “super spreader” event.
“We’ve been talking about New Zealand having an election. They were able to do it. Their r-naught (R0) is well below one (infectivity and its spread).
“So, super spreaders are either people or big events. An election is a super spreader event. Unless you can do it online, there is hardly any reason why it should be triggered, compromising the health and life of our people.”
He said if he still heads the Health Ministry, he would advise against holding a general election.
The only way he would agree for polls to be held is if Malaysia’s R0 is below one and campaigning is done online.
Dzulkefly, who is Kuala Selangor MP and Amanah strategic director, said Malaysia nearly flattened the infection curve but due to mistakes made during the state election, Putrajaya, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Sabah are now placed under various movement control orders. – The Vibes, October 29, 2020
