SHAH ALAM – Since being appointed health minister, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba has met state governments only once to discuss Covid-19, the Selangor assembly was told today.
This is despite the extent and severity of the pandemic, which has, to date, infected more than 40,200 people and killed 286 in Malaysia.
State Public Health, Unity, Women and Family Development Committee chairman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said a meeting took place right after Dr Adham’s appointment following the change of government in March.
“Since then, we have not been called. But I should mention that there was also once when the minister met the menteri besar (Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari). I was there, too,” she said today.
An aide to Amirudin confirmed to The Vibes that there has been only one official meeting with Dr Adham since the start of the coronavirus crisis.
Dr Siti Mariah was responding to a supplementary question from Elizabeth Wong (PH-Bukit Lanjan) on the number of times excos from all states have been called by the health minister for a Covid-19 meeting.
To another question, Dr Siti Mariah raised the Health Ministry’s lack of cooperation and communication to assist Selangor’s bid to contain the virus.
“I think we all know that the ministry is not cooperating with us at all. We have not been getting feedback from them, and they don’t even recognise our presence.” – The Vibes, November 9, 2020
