PARTI Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) today tore the Health Ministry (MOH) to shreds for refusing to hold daily media conferences for the sake of updating the COVID-19 situation to the public.
“We know two things. One is that the pandemic situation is getting worse than before. Second, our current movement control order (MCO) is more relaxed compared to the first one last year, on top of Malaysia being under Emergency rule now.
“With these two alarming situations, why isn’t MOH director general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah or anyone else from the ministry giving us daily interactive updates?
“Yes, all the data and numbers can be given without live interaction, but aren’t the real-time questions from the press important too?” its deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan told FocusM.
The MOH stopped calling for press conferences on daily COVID-19 updates in June last year. However, Arutchelvan said it was important to hold such events as the media would field questions reflecting the concerns of the public, including about information trending on social media.
“Noor Hisham will have to take time to answer these questions. The check and balance is now missing. If strict standard operating procedure (SOP) is the hindrance, we can hold a virtual zoom daily press conference, which is a new norm accepted by the media,” he said.
Arutchelvan said it was important for the Government to provide daily feedback by engaging the media as COVID-19 cases are rising, adding it was utterly irresponsible not to do that during a crisis.
The nation needs solid leadership
If Noor Hisham was busy, the PSM leader said any one of his deputies can stand in for the former and hold the daily media briefings.
“And I find it nonsensical that, as reported by a news portal that the infectivity rate – known as the R-naught (R0), is only announced when the director general himself makes a statement.
“During crisis, we need proper information sources and not to rely on rumours and fake news. Previously, Noor Hisham was able to put such misinformation to rest.
“Now we are in a critical period, with many issues and controversies over the vaccines and home quarantine, it is important for Noor Hisham to set the record straight,” Arutchelvan stressed.
The former Kajang Municipal Council (MPK) councillor said that even the police and other authorities have admitted that they are confused with the SOP, which needs to be addressed the soonest using print and electronic media.
He added that given the fact that healthcare workers are on the edge, it was time for someone from the Government to show some leadership to steer the nation away from the pandemic.
“Currently, official clarification on important matters takes a few days, and implementation takes longer time. It is our hope that Noor Hisham or someone from the MOH gives daily interactive briefings and takes on questions from the media.
“Clarity will help us move on with greater effectiveness in overcoming this deadly pandemic,” Arutchelvan remarked. – Feb 8, 2021
