GEORGE TOWN – Former Penang health exco Dr Afif Bahardin has been appointed as a member of the Covid-19 secretariat formed by the federal and state governments to combat the pandemic in the state.
The Seberang Jaya assemblyman is the only state opposition rep in the secretariat.
He was fired from the state exco position when he left PKR and joined Bersatu in June last year.
The others in the secretariat are Azrul Mahathir (Bayan Lepas-PKR), Chris Lee Chun Kit (Pulau Tikus-DAP), Daniel Gooi Zi Sen (Pengkalan Kota-DAP), Heng Lee Lee (Berapit-DAP), Jason H’ng Mooi Lye (Jawi-DAP), Joseph Ng Soon Siang (Air Itam-DAP), Mohd Tuah Ismail (Pulau Betong-PKR), Mustafa Kamal Ahmad (Telok Ayer Tawar-PKR), Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lanchang-DAP) and Satees Muniandy (Bagan Dalam-DAP).
Their appointments were announced by DAP’s Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim, who is the coordinator for the secretariat, today.
In a Facebook post, Sim added that all elected representatives in Penang, regardless of their party affiliations, are appointed to the management committees of their respective Covid-19 districts, improving communication.
He also hit back at the opposition for accusing him of not doing a good job in controlling the spread of Covid-19 in Penang.
“This is not a miracle but hard work,” he said. “I have not pointed a finger at anyone, and I just want to carry out the task entrusted to me.
“After being appointed, I made it my main focus to add ICU beds and save lives.”
Sim said that he was able to help open a quarantine centre in Balik Pulau and has instructed the ferrying of Covid-19 patients to the quarantine centre in Jawi. The rate of adolescent vaccination in Penang was the lowest when it started, but has now spiked to be among the top four in the nation, he said.
The Covid-19 Assessment Centre response time has also been shortened, along with added patient transport vehicles and the dispatch of oxygen concentrators by the Civil Defence Force and Red Crescent Society, he added.
Despite criticism against the current state health exco – PKR state representative for Penanti Dr Norlela Ariffin – by several DAP representatives, Sim said he has taken the initiative to bridge the gap, with a WhatsApp group involving welfare, caring society and environment exco Phee Boon Poh to discuss and share information. – The Vibes, October 9, 2021
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