KUCHING, Jan 12: DAP Batu Kitang chairman Abdul Aziz Isa has hit out at Deputy Health Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang for being “missing in action’ when he was needed during the Covid-19 crisis.
Aziz Isa observed that the Sarawakian minister, who is also Kanowit MP, has rarely spoken to the public pertaining to the current Covid-19 situation particularly in Sarawak since his appointment.
“The last time Aaron appeared publicly was in December 2020 when he announced that the Federal government will build a new hospital at Puncak Borneo.
“Since then, no official news was reported or made by him. This raises questions among many Sarawakians wondering the Deputy Minister’s whereabouts as he seems to be politically “missing in action’ (MIA) and has been invisible on the ground,” he said in a statement today.
Perplexed as to why Aaron is missing in action and invisible, Aziz Isa thus suggested that it would be wise for him to relinquish his position if he was unable to perform his duty as the Deputy Minister of Health effectively and efficiently.
“At least by relinquishing his position, it can reduce the Federal government’s coffers from paying him the Deputy Minister’s salary and allowances,” he added.
Aziz Isa, who is also special assistant to Chong Chieng Jen, pointed out that as the Deputy Minister of Health, Aaron should come out and issue more statements to clear the air and reassure the public, more so when the Covid-19 situation has worsened again in Sarawak.
“Furthermore, his Kanowit parliamentary seat is situated only next to both Lanang and Sibu parliamentary seats. Therefore, the public expects Aaron to have more empathy on the current situation.
“It seems like both Clarence (Sibu Municipal Council chairman) and Sempurai (Sibu Rural District Council chairman) are the only ‘politicians’ who came out to calm the public,” he pointed out.
Aziz Isa noted that since State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) reported 37 new Covid-19 cases in Sibu involving Pasai Siong Cluster and declared Sibu as red zone, SMC chairman Clarence Ting had yesterday warned public to brace for the bad news as more positive cases were detected from the cluster.
He also noted that SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngilai had yesterday tightened the standard operating procedure (SOP) and compliance at public places following the surge in Covid-19 cases in Sibu. — DayakDaily
