While pointing out the failures, they also suggested how the federal government could handle the crisis.
DAP’s Lim Guan Eng (PH-Air Putih) and PKR’s Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PH-Pantai Jerejak) touched on various issues, from the rising number of deaths in the state, the vaccination exercise and support services for those under lockdowns.
Penang has the highest Covid-19 case numbers in the country by population – at 94.5 incidences per 100,000 people (for a seven-day average), outnumbering the Klang Valley.
Lim, in continuing the debate on the governor’s address today, said there must be an in-depth study on why certain areas had a high number of deaths.
He cited the example of the Air Itam constituency, which has had 21 Covid-19-related deaths to date.
Saying this was alarming, he added that there were no answers as to why such a trend persisted.
Lim said Penang’s overall Covid-19 deaths of 469 as of Aug 26 was also a matter of concern as most of those who had died were above the age of 50.
“We have to find out why this is happening, we need to go deeper,” he added.
Lim also said Penangites were starting to feel that the pandemic was a “death sentence” and “worse than prison”, with calls to 999 not heeded quickly, a low vaccination rate and steep fines for violations of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP).
He said that last year, fines of RM2.08 million were paid by 2,085 people out of the 3,648 people compounded for SOP violations in Penang, at a time when a RM1,000 fine was levied.
Lim said this year, a total of RM4.3 million was collected from 2,115 people with 3,762 compound notices issued to date.
He said given the “weaknesses of the federal government” in handling the pandemic, the Penang government must step up to mitigate the effects.
“If the federal government cannot do it, we can do it in Penang. I sincerely hope the new health minister can make urgent changes to remedy the situation,” he said.
Weighing in, Saifuddin said there had been a string of failures from the start of the pandemic that the present federal government needed to take heed of.
He said the first was being late in booking vaccines with the excuse of waiting for clinical trials when many other countries had pre-ordered theirs way before these trials began.
“In the northern slang, we should have ‘chup dulu’. We placed our orders only at a time when there was a rush for vaccines,” he said.
Saifuddin said when the vaccines came, Sarawak was the first to get them, with a significant amount going there as part of a political scheme to gear up for the state election.
The state was supposed to have held its election in June, but this was put on hold after an emergency was declared there.
He said it was not about the state being able to procure its own vaccines, but that it was given a head start by the policymakers in Putrajaya.
“Even neighbouring Sabah was so ‘corot’ (slow) to get the vaccines. So, it appears like the lives of Sarawakians were more important compared with that of inhabitants of other states.”
Saifuddin then cited the story of Malaysian-born journalist Rahmah Ghazali, who was tested positive with the rest of her family in the United Kingdom.
He said the National Health Service there called daily to monitor them and the local council there also carried out checks from time to time to ensure they had enough groceries.
“That is what you call a support system. We as the government must offer support to those who are isolated in their homes,” he said.
‘No two-thirds majority for state constitution amendment’
Separately, Lim raised the issue of votes not being formally counted during yesterday’s amendment to the state constitution. He said such a move would require two-thirds majority support and required a formal vote by all 40 assembly members.
Speaker Law Choo Kiang said no formal count was necessary when it involved standardising state law with federal laws.
Lim said this was a matter of consequence and a formal vote should have taken place as it involved the highest law of the state. Law thanked Lim for his views.
Yesterday, the assembly had passed a law to lower the age cap for candidates vying for state seats from 21 to 18.
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