KUCHING, July 20: SUPP Youth Central has slammed Sarawak DAP for nitpicking Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC)’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, describing their actions as an attempt to score political brownie points instead of putting people’s health and well-being first.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Youth Central secretary-general Milton Foo said that Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s recent remarks alleging Dr Sim, who is Minister for Local Government and Housing, and SDMC had concealed certain information pertaining to Covid-19 did not do any good in the fight against the pandemic.
“But instead, it caused doubt and anxiety among the public. Such baseless allegations will only hinder the fight against Covid-19.
“SDMC is a responsible authority which always places the safety and livelihood of people first before anything,” Foo said in a statement today.
He pointed out that adjustments to pandemic response actions were necessary to deal with the current needs of the evolving Covid-19 situation in Sarawak in order to better protect the people.
“With Covid variants changing the pandemic, measures taken have to be constantly improved and adjusted to maximise the benefits on the people.
“But regrettably, Chong did not perceive it this way but only criticised the authority for U-turning on the no dine-in order. What do his words contribute to the fight against this pandemic?” he questioned.
Foo also questioned why criticism was not aimed at federal authorities on issues such as the accurate naming of clusters which Dr Sim has raised numerous times.
“Chong did not voice this out for the people, which is a stark contrast if compared to his diligence when pointing fingers towards SDMC’s measures.
“Could it be that he gives a higher sense of recognition to federal authorities in fighting the pandemic?
“Or is DAP Sarawak, out of current political considerations, trying to avoid conflict with PPBM (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) or Umno (United Malays National Organisation), just to stand a chance for cooperation to form an alliance in seizing power of the federal government?” he opined.
Despite Chong criticising SDMC’s achievement in dealing with the pandemic, Foo emphasised the fact remained Sarawak has marked a decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases compared to other states under the governance of Pakatan Harapan (PH) like Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan.
“If DAP is truly concerned, they should recommend some successful experience or strategies in fighting the pandemic to their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia for the good of the people there,” he suggested.
In these critical times as Sarawak strives hard to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, Foo stressed it is not time to earn political points. Instead all sectors of society regardless of political affiliation should prioritise the lives of the people in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
