By Charles Santiago
YOU need people to be alive to enjoy the 5G network by Sweden’s Ericsson. Dozens of Malaysians and non-citizens are dying by the day due to COVID-19.
A Malay Mail’s journalist even reported about doctors being forced to play God due to a lack of resources.
We have all known about this through private conversations with medical practitioners, who reveal their grief because they have to decide who should get the next ICU bed or be intubated.
As the reporter said, the doctors could not reveal this publicly as they cannot do so under General Orders.
But the Government must have been privy to this information and yet look at where their priority lies: in 5G network, which would cost a whopping RM11bil.
This fund should instead be used to build make-shift hospitals and buy life-saving equipment, including oxygen tanks and ventilators, on top of hospital beds.
Furthermore, the Government could spend more funds in purchasing vaccines, and invest in home based COVID-19 test kits (such as saliva kits), pulse oxymeters for home monitoring.
When I visit my constituency, Klang, people express their concerns about affordable access to hospital and medical care.
Go to the ground, Ministers
Now that the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital has been converted into a full COVID-19 facility, these folks who are mainly from the B40 group would be forced to seek treatment for other ailments from private hospitals.
Unfortunately, they cannot afford to be treated there because it is expensive.
And so, the Government must direct private hospitals to charge these patients at lower rates and allow them to claim income tax exemptions to mitigate their losses.
The gGovernment would know about these grievances of the rakyat, if Cabinet ministers and their deputies bothered to go down to the ground.
But greed for power seems to be their only focus.
As for 5G, Digital Nasional Bhd which appointed Ericsson and its chairman, Asri Hamidon, have said the plans remain on track as the 5G network and ecosystem are scheduled to be launched by end of this year in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.
Let us be clear, 5G network development is important but the current priority should be to bolster the collapsing heathcare system, and save lives.
So, to the Government I say: postpone the plan by one year for now. – July 12, 2021.
Charles Santiago is the MP for Klang.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
