On Thursday, the 1,022 cases recorded in Penang set a new record for the state that has struggled to contain infections of late.

In a statement, the former chief minister noted that Penang’s vaccination rate had dipped from the targeted 30,000 a day despite transmission remaining high.

“For the month of August, the 30,000 doses target was achieved only once on Aug 5, with the lowest being 21,614 daily doses on Aug 1.

“Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow had spoken of achieving 40,000 daily doses this month. But with the uncertain supply, even achieving the average target of 30,000 daily doses may be difficult.

“Can the federal government guarantee prompt delivery of vaccines to enable the 40,000 daily doses to be attained by the end of August?”

Ensuring Penangites are vaccinated is the “only protection against the high risk of death from Covid-19”, Lim said, with 99% of Category 5 patients being unvaccinated.

“Further, the health ministry must pour more resources into expanding our health support system, such as providing more intensive care unit (ICU) beds.

“The outpatient department at Penang Hospital has to be converted into an observation and initial treatment ward for Covid-19 patients following a sudden increase in Covid-19 patients at its Emergency and Trauma Department and admission to hospital wards.”

Lim said political partisanship must be set aside for the good of the state, so that there are no bureaucratic obstacles to the prompt delivery of vaccines and implementation of public health measures like mass testing.

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