KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry (MoH) and the Defence Ministry (Mindef) will draw up a new framework to optimise the use of the assets of both ministries.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this was due to the previous good cooperation between the two ministries in managing the Covid-19 pandemic.
“For example, at Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital, the need for human resources could be filled by MoH.
“Perhaps the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) also have the equipment or machinery for use in interior areas, which could be deployed by MoH when necessary,” he said at a news conference after a visit to Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, here, today.
Khairy said the ministries’ cooperation which existed previously should be taken to a higher level with a clear mission through a new framework.
Meanwhile, he said both ministries were already prepared to face the monsoon season and floods towards the end of the year.
Khairy said that he and Hishammuddin had been briefed on the preparedness of the MAF and MoH in assisting the National Security Council in the event of monsoon floods hitting the country.
He also said that their visit today was following the directive given by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the last cabinet meeting for the relevant ministries to be in a strong state of preparedness in facing the monsoon floods.
Khairy also thanked MAF for its quick action in building field hospitals in a number of states during the pandemic.
Hence, he said, MoH supported the acquisition of more equipment by the MAF and Mindef in boosting the state of preparedness of the field hospitals. – Bernama, September 27, 2022
