KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan has released a joint statement today blaming the Federal Government for the spread and surge of Covid -19 in the country.
“Pakatan Harapan’s Presidential Council is concerned with the sudden increase in COVID-19 positive cases in almost every state in our country that has now reached over 7,000 consecutive cases, alongside the increasing amount of ICU beds that are not enough to face critical cases.
“We are also saddened to receive news that the death rate is so high every day, especially the last three days that recorded over 60 people deaths each day. The Presidential Council sent condolences to all families who have lost their loved ones due to this COVID-19 outbreak,” the statement reads.
“Daily COVID-19 cases surging since the Emergency declared and Parliament closed clearly shows the failure of the National Alliance Government to deal with COVID-19 by itself.
“This political self ′′ Lockdown ′′ actually aims to save the National Alliance Government that lost the majority of Parliament,” it added.
Unfortunately, this political self-lockdown without accountability, transparency and the process of checking and draw has already exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.
Pakatan Harapan also calls for the parliament to reconvene, citing the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Members of Parliament Azlina Othman who has today also urged the government to reopen the parliament.
Considering that almost all Parliamentary Members have already received their jabs, the Presidential Council urges all Parliament members to join in demanding that Parliament be reopened.
The Presidential Council also informed that the rate of giving of Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines has not reached the promised rate due to being shackled with various problems including supply issues, vaccine distribution issues including insufficient doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, and registration issues that are very difficult for the people even RM70 million has been spent for the website system.
“Vaccine giving rates should be hastened especially when the RM5 billion fund requirement has already been reached with the withdrawal of money from the National Trust Group (KWAN) without Parliament approval, for purchase and execution costs.”
The Presidential Council also urged the Regulatory Division of National Pharmacy (NPRA) to accelerate approval of Sinopharm vaccines, Sputnik V and Moderna so that the target of batch immunity can be reached faster. This is since the Sinopharm vaccine has received WHO approval, and Sputnik V and Moderna have started to be used in various countries.
“Since the Emergency was effective on January 11, 2021 until today, although it was given full power to do all efforts, but based on existing data and evidence, this Emergency power did not successfully curb the COVID-19 outbreak on the contrary things get much more serious. The National Alliance Government has failed.
“Therefore, the Presidential Council insisted through Pakatan Harapan representatives in the Special Committee of the Emergency that this Emergency should not only be extended more than August 1, 2021, but also need to end immediately. Parliament should be meeting soon to restore democracy,” the statement added.
The joint statement was signed and released by Dato ‘ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Guan Eng and Hj Mohamad Sabu from AMANAH.
