(Tatal ke bawah untuk kenyataan versi BM)

I was shocked and dumbfounded to read the Malaysiakini report of what the Federal Territories Minister, Annuar Musa had said at the Harakah Daily forum on the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said it is an indicator that the government has succeeded in managing the pandemic when the people are no longer afraid of Covid-19.

Annuar said: “We are having a problem where the people are not afraid of Covid-19. So when the people are not scared, it means that some think this is not an outbreak.”

He continued: “To me, this is an indication that we have successfully controlled this outbreak, that it is no longer being considered as such by some people. That shows success.”

Annuar asked the audience to compare the situation in Malaysia with other countries, especially those which are far superior in terms of technology and medical advancement.

Citing several examples, he said the US to date has recorded close to 35 million positive cases including 615,232 deaths while the UK recorded over 4.5 million cases with 127,000 deaths.

This, according to Annuar, is another indication that Malaysia has been doing relatively well compared to other countries.

He also said the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme is another point to weigh.

“How can people say that we failed? Now every four days, a million people are being given free vaccination shots.

“Is that a sign that we have failed?”

We have a most fantastic Cabinet – Ministers who could see success in failure! Two words keep coming to my mind when I read this report: kakistocracy and dystopia.

Is Annuar a typical example of the Muhyiddin Cabinet who regards the emergency proclamation on January 12, 2021 to combat the Covid-19 epidemic as a great success instead of a dismal failure!

How many Ministers in Muhyiddin’s bloated Cabinet think like Annuar – that the government is winning the war against Covid-19 pandemic when actually we are losing it?

Malaysia will never win the war against the Covid-19 pandemic if Annuar Musa’s attitude represents the mentality of the Muhyiddin government in the war against Covid-19 pandemic.

It most absurd and shocking that we have a government which seems to regard the abysmal failure of the emergency proclamation as a weapon against the Covid-19 pandemic and a communication policy and strategy to educate the people about the dangers of the Covid-19 pandemic as a great success.

No wonder the country is in such deep trouble!

The Health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah is worrying himself to death about the high rate of Covid-19 cases and deaths; that the public health, hospital and ICU systems are on breaking-point as a result of the deluge of Covid-19 cases – but this is not reflected by the concerns of the political leadership in government as reflected by Annuar’s comments at the Harakah Daily forum.

Going by Annuar’s mentality and logic, Malaysians should celebrate that we have beaten China, with 44 times Malaysia’s population, not only in cumulative total of Covid-19 cases but in total Covid-19 deaths. As of yesterday, China reported 91,669 Covid-19 cases and 4,636 Covid-19 deaths as against Malaysia’s 716,847 Covid-19 cases and 4,721 Covid-19 deaths.

Going by Annuar’s logic, we have further cause to celebrate for yesterday, we set another record in our worsening Covid-19 situation when we overtook Serbia to be ranked No. 36 among nations with the most cumulative total of Covid-19 cases.

We are likely to overtake Jordan by the end of June or early July to be ranked No. 35 when we were ranked No.85 on November 11, 2020 among nations with the most cumulative total of Covid-19 cases.

Annuar’s statistics for the United States and United Kingdom are correct for the past 18 months, except he has not taken into account the recent developments where both United States and United Kingdom have seen sharp drops in Covid-19 cases and deaths, while in Malaysia, the reverse is taking place.

In the past week from June 16 – 23, for example, United States had 83,203 new Covid-19 cases and 2,113 deaths, the UK had 79,480 new Covid-19 cases and 101 deaths as compared to 37,980 new Covid-19 cases and 495 deaths in Malaysia.

Should Malaysia celebrate when in the Our World in Data category of “Biweekly cases per million population”, Malaysia’s score is 2,382.59 – way ahead of United States (507.24) and United Kingdom (1,948.74)?

What is most worrying is how can Malaysia win the war against the Covid-19 pandemic when we have Ministers like Annuar in the Muhyiddin’s Cabinet?

In any country with a decent, competent and responsible Cabinet, Annuar would have been given the sack immediately.

Malaysia needs a “Win the War Against Covid-19 Pandemic” (WACOP) coalition government to save the country from the devastation in lives, economic losses and societal damages of the pandemic.

There should no place in the “Win the War against Covid-19 pandemic” Cabinet for naysayers like Annuar who could see a victory when Malaysia is fighting a losing battle against Covide-19!

(Media Statement by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, June 25, 2021)

#kerajaangagal136 — Malaysia tidak akan menang perang melawan Covid-19 jika sikap Annuar Musa mewakili mentaliti kerajaan Muhyiddin

Saya terkejut dan tergamam membaca laporan Malaysiakini berkenaan kenyataan Menteri Wilayah, Annuar Musa dalam forum Harakah Daily berhubung situasi wabak Covid-19.

Menurut Annuar antara petunjuk kerajaan berjaya mengawal pandemik ini adalah apabila orang ramai sudah tidak lagi takut terhadap Covid-19.

Beliau berkata: “Kita mempunyai masalah di mana orang ramai tidak takut dengan Covid-19. Jadi bila mereka tidak takut, ia bermakna ada antara mereka yang fikir ini bukan pandemik.

Tambahnya: “Pada saya itu adalah indication bahawasanya kita berjaya mengawal wabak sehingga dia tidak dianggap wabak oleh sesetengah orang…Itu tanda kejayaan.”

Annuar juga meminta orang ramai membandingkan keadaan di Malaysia dengan negara lain, khususnya negara yang lebih maju teknologi dan sains perubatannya.

Memetik beberapa contoh, beliau berkata Amerika Syarikat setakat ini telah mencatatkan hampir 35 juta kes positif termasuk 615,232 kematian, manakala United Kingdom mencatat lebih 4.5 juta kes dengan 127,000 kematian.

Menurut Annuar, ia merupakan satu lagi petunjuk prestasi Malaysia yang baik berbanding negara-negara lain.

Beliau juga membangkitkan Program Imunisasi Covid-19 Kebangsaan sebagai petunjuk kejayaan kerajaan dalam mengawal pandemik.

“Bagaimana nak kata kita gagal? Dalam keadaan sekarang tiap-tiap empat hari sejuta rakyat diberi suntikan percuma.

“Adakah ini petanda kita gagal?”

Kita mempunyai Kabinet yang cukup hebat — Menteri-menterinya boleh melihat kejayaan dalam kegagalan! Dua perkataan bermain di fikiran saya semasa membaca laporan ini: kakistokrasi dan distopia.

Adakah Annuar sebenarnya contoh daripada Kabinet Muhyiddin yang menganggap Proklamasi Darurat pada 12 Januari 2021 untuk melawan Covid-19 adalah suatu kejayaan besar dan bukannya kegagalan!

Berapa ramai Menteri dalam Kabinet gergasi Muhyiddin yang berfikiran seperti Annuar — berfikiran bahawa kerajaan sedang memenangi peperangan melawan Covid-19 sedangkan kita sebenarnya sedang berhadapan dengan kekalahan?

Malaysia tidak akan menang perang melawan wabak ini jika pemikiran seperti Annuar Musa ini meluas dalam kerajaan Muhyiddin dalam usaha melawan Covid-19.

Amat mengejutkan dan tidak masuk akal bahawa kita mempunyai sebuah kerajaan yang seolah-olah menganggap kegagalan proklamasi darurat sebagai senjata melawan Covid-19 dan mendakwa dasar serta strategi komunikasi untuk mendidik orang ramai tentang bahaya pandemik Covid-19 telah mencapai kejayaan.

Tidak hairanlah negara terjerat dalam masalah yang begitu besar!

Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan menzahirkan kebimbangan tentang kadar kes dan kematian Covid-19 yang begitu tinggi; bahawa sistem kesihatan awam, hospital, dan katil unit rawatan rapi berada di tahap genting ekoran peningkatan kes Covid-19 — bagaimanapun kerisauan ini tidak dirasai oleh pemimpin politik dalam kerajaan hari ini seperti yang digambarkan oleh kenyataan Annuar dalam forum Harakah Daily semalam.

Mengikut logik dan mentaliti Annuar, Malaysia patut meraikan “kejayaan” kita menewaskan China, yang mempunyai jumlah penduduk 44 kali ganda daripada Malaysia, bukan sahaja dalam kategori jumlah kumulatif kes Covid-19 malah dalam angka kematian akibat wabak itu. Setakat semalam, China mempunyai 91,669 kes Covid-19 dan 4,636 kes kematian berbanding Malaysia dengan 71716,847 kes Covid-19 dan 4,721 kes kematian.

Mengikut logik Annuar juga, kita ada sebab untuk meraikan lagi “kejayaan” ini kerana semalam, kita mencipta rekod baharu apabila kita memintas Serbia untuk berada di kedudukan ke-36 antara negara-negara dengan jumlah kumulatif kes Covid-19 tertinggi.

Kita mungkin akan memintas Jordan menjelang penghujung Jun atau awal Julai untuk berada di kedudukan ke-35 sedangkan kita pernah menduduki tangga ke-85 antara negara-negara dengan jumlah kumulatif kes Covid-19 tertinggi pada 11 November 2020.

Statistik kes di Amerika Syarikat dan United Kingdom sepanjang 18 bulan lalu yang dipetik Annuar dalam forum berkenaan tepat. Pun begitu, beliau tidak mengambil kita perkembangan terbaharu di mana Amerika Syarikat dan United Kingdom telah merekodkan penurunan mendadak dalam kes positif Covid-19 dan kes kematian akibat wabak itu, sementara di Malaysia, perkara sebaliknya pula berlaku.

Sebagai contoh, sepanjang minggu lalu dari 16 hingga 23 Jun, Amerika Syarikat merekodkan 82,203 kes baharu Covid-19 dengan 2,113 kes kematian dan UK merekodkan 79,480 kes baharu Covid-19 dengan 101 kes kematian berbanding 37,980 kes baharu Covid-19 dan 495 kes kematian di Malaysia.

Perlukah Malaysia meraikan “kejayaan” apabila kita mendapat markah 2,382.59 dalam kategori “kes per sejuta penduduk setiap dua minggu” seperti yang disiarkan dalam laman web Our World in Data — jauh lebih tinggi berbanding Amerika Syarikat (507.24) dan United Kingdom (1,948.74)?

Apa yang lebih membimbangkan adalah bagaimana Malaysia boleh menang perang melawan pandemik Covid-19 apabila kita mempunyai Menteri seperti Annuar Musa dalam Kabinet Muhyiddin.

Dalam sesebuah negara dengan Kabinet yang baik, cekap dan bertanggungjawab, Annuar sudah tentu akan dipecat serta merta.

Malaysia memerlukan kerajaan gabungan “Menang Perang Melawan Covid-19” untuk menyelamatkan rakyat dan negara daripada kehancuran dan kerugian ekonomi.

Tiada ada tempat dalam Kabinet “Menang Perang Melawan Covid-19” untuk orang seperti Annuar yang nampak kejayaan sedangkan Malaysia sedang mengalami kekalahan dalam peperangan melawan Covid-19!

(Kenyataan Media Ahli Parlimen DAP Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang di Kuala Lumpur pada hari Jumaat, 25 Jun 2021)