The Malaysian Insight

PANDEMONIUM reigned in the final hour of today’s Parliament meeting as opposition lawmakers badgered the health minister over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

For long spells, it appeared that Dr Adham Baba was speaking to himself as dissatisfied members repeatedly kept shouting at him to reply to the points they had raised while discussing his briefing on the emergency earlier in the morning.

Much of the unhappiness centred on the way Putrajaya had responded to the hartal strike by contract doctors yesterday, as news emerged this morning police were investigating them and directors of some hospitals were tracking down those who had participated.

After much shouting, Adham in the end assured the MPs, many of whom were doctors, that no action would be taken against those who had protested. 

“Action will not be taken against the contract doctors. Insya Allah no action has been taken even though they walked out yesterday,” he said after being cornered by several MPs from the opposition, including his predecessor Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor-PH) on permanent postings for contract doctors. 

Apart from Dzulkefly, Dr Kelvin Yii ( Bandar Kuching-PH), Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (Kuala Krai-PN) and Dr Lee Boon Chye (Gopeng-PH) were among others who had urged the government to resolve the issue of contract doctors.

Adham responded to them and assured the extension of the contract is an interim solution and the needful will be done including amendment to the necessary acts to facilitate permanent postings in the service.

“So that we can help these doctors. I am a doctor and my child is also a doctor,” he said.

But that did little to mollify the opposition benches as they railed against Adham over other issues.

Lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction over the government’s handling of the pandemic. Among them were the insufficient supplies of vaccines, hospitals bursting at seams, the high number of cases and others.

While Adham did his best to reply, most of the information presented were those that were already answered at some point or other in the course of the pandemic.

Former deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming (Teluk Intan-PH) said he could tolerate the minister’s many gaffes but should resign if he cannot handle the job. 

He said more than 8,000 people had died since the pandemic hit Malaysian shores. 

Earlier in the morning, de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan came under heavy fire in Parliament for dodging questions on the revocation of the emergency ordinances, specifically on whether the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had given his consent.

Takiyuddin, however, evaded the question, saying he was bound by a ruling by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun yesterday to answer such questions on Monday.

“My answer to all of you is that I will be giving an answer this Monday. There is a procedure in the house, and I have been allowed by the speaker to clarify on (next) Monday,” he said.

The PAS lawmaker caused a stir yesterday when he announced that the government had cancelled the ordinances that were passed during the emergency, effective July 21.

When Azhar took the chair later, before Adham spoke, he stood his ground and told the opposition to wait for next Monday.

Tomorrow is expected to be another trying day for the government as Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin briefs members on the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

Proceedings begin at 10am. – July 27, 2021.