COMMENT | I trust Noor Hisham, not our politicians
COMMENT | I have been waiting for a long time to say this. My patience on the Covid-19 issue has finally worn out.
So, let me make this declaration loud and clear. I have zero confidence in the current crop of political leaders to pull us through this pandemic. Zilch, nothing! Absolutely no faith in them!
As the daily toll mounts with a record high of 3,027 cases yesterday, we can expect worse to come. But what do politicians care, except for power and more power.
I wish to make an earnest appeal to the politicians to allow the health officials to decide on all aspects in handling the raging pandemic for it is they who know best what to do. The politicians know next to nothing. So, please lay off and shut up!
I would even venture to say this. If Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah requests for more funding, don’t ask questions...
COMMENT | I have been waiting for a long time to say this. My patience on the Covid-19 issue has finally worn out.
So, let me make this declaration loud and clear. I have zero confidence in the current crop of political leaders to pull us through this pandemic. Zilch, nothing! Absolutely no faith in them!
As the daily toll mounts with a record high of 3,027 cases yesterday, we can expect worse to come. But what do politicians care, except for power and more power.
I wish to make an earnest appeal to the politicians to allow the health officials to decide on all aspects in handling the raging pandemic for it is they who know best what to do. The politicians know next to nothing. So, please lay off and shut up!
I would even venture to say this. If Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah requests for more funding, don’t ask questions, just give him what he needs.
I am very sure Noor Hisham would not put the money in his pocket, unlike some politicians. Or award supply contracts directly to his family members or relatives. So, cut the red tape, please.
We have a massive allocation in the budget to fight Covid-19, don’t we? Mr Finance Minister, are you listening? Do not let Noor Hisham and his team wait for months before the urgent funds reach them. They have no time to waste.
Now is the time for ministers to listen to Noor Hisham – the table has to be turned. The DG and his dedicated team do not need political masters now. In this onerous battle against the pandemic, it is best ministers take instructions from our top health official. No, this is no laughing matter. I’m serious.
Noor Hisham and his men and women on the frontline are battling to save lives while self-serving ministers and politicians are fighting for their own political lives. These lines are clear for all to see, even to the visually impaired.
I have reasons to believe that ministers have not been taking the advice and recommendations from the DG seriously. We have heard how Noor Hisham had suggested a similar lockdown in the early stages last year following the continuous spike in positive cases again but ministers decided to allow inter-state and inter-district travels instead.
Who is responsible for this third wave? The squabbling politicians responsible for staging the Sabah elections last September, who else? Those scums of the earth must be held responsible for the lives of some 300 Sabahans who had succumbed to the coronavirus over the past three months.
What difference does it make to the people of Sabah whether Mohd Shafie Apdal or Hajiji Noor is their chief minister? None at all! Politics is the last thing on their minds today.
Malaysians have heard and seen enough of what politicians are capable of. We are all fed up of their never-ending tussles for position and power. The fights are bitter and serious with so much anger and hate involved. Let me repeat – to hell with all of them, no matter which side they are on.
Code red
I have only empathy for Noor Hisham and his team. For the first time on Wednesday, the DG sounded panicky. He has good reasons too. He has our sympathy and I am sure all Malaysians will continue to support the DG and place our trust in him to steer us out of this dreadful pandemic.
At his press conference, Noor Hisham revealed that the health system was breaking down as it struggles to cope with the increasing number of patients.
This is the most serious alarm bell sounded by the DG so far. Understandably so when we registered a record high of above 3,000 cases yesterday and the numbers seem to be spiralling out of control. For weeks, the daily toll has been in four digits and new clusters keep on emerging.
Active cases now total 25,221 (as of yesterday). If that figure doubles to 50,000, which is not unlikely, we will be in serious trouble. When we reach that number, there is only one sure destination ahead – more deaths.
We have a total of 521 deaths as of yesterday. Would anyone be surprised if the death toll reaches 5,000 over the next few weeks or months?
Certainly not the politicians, some of whom have been shouting aloud to hold a general election now. Can someone direct these guys to the mental asylum, please?
I must mention this. There is also one key factor why we are very grateful to Noor Hisham – he has been honest and transparent with the figures and even warned of the dire straits we are in now and will likely face in the days and weeks ahead. I believe that Noor Hisham will continue to do so.
Here is a man who lives and speaks the truth. He does not hide anything regarding the pandemic from Malaysians.
Noor Hisham is real, not a fake.
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is the author of ‘Hijack in Malaysia: The Fall of Pakatan Harapan’. Obtain autographed copies from sirsiah@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
