Budget 2021: Government cannot be seen as trying to politicise lives, livelihoods - Dr Dzul

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is urged to learn some 'best practise' from other countries which are seen to be more successful in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and at the same time ensure that the economy stays afloat.

Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PH-Kuala Selangor) said the rapid progress in public health system including testings techniques, clinical management, before the arrival of Covid vaccines, should be exploited in the best way.

According to him, the implementation of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in almost the whole country raises doubts because it seems to be not based on data and science of epidemiology.

"I mention here that it is important for the government to take this calculation, where criticisms from the Malaysian Medical Academy (APM) and also the Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC) including views of others from outside of MOH of Infectious Disease experts, public health physicians and practising epidemiologists.

“Where is the science? Where is the data? And where is the argument for imposing this Conditional MCO on all states except Perlis, Kelantan and Pahang? We are aware that CMCO has the very severe impact not only of the economy but as employment, buisnesses, education, mental health and domestic violence.

"Those affected bear the stress of mental health, domestic disharmony and domestic violence. In fact, 32,000 small and medium enterprises have wound up,” said the former Health Minister when debating the Supply (Budget) Bill 2021, in the Dewan Rakyat today.

In the meantime, Dr Dzulkefly said the government needs to hold more open consultations with other parties, especially in dealing with the management of COVID-19.

He added that as the Chairman of the Selangor COVID-19 Special Committee (STFC), he really hoped that the government must rely on smart targeted approach on small areas in CMO and not blunt and crude ones covering the state. To do that they should rely on statistical and epidemiological metrics, that are meaningful and reflect local situation 'risk ranking' approach.

"I conclude, it is unfortunate if we do not allow other parties to share their views. There is no monopoly in this. The government needs to give space, provides data-sharing, as we have enjoyed in the past in Selangor. We were abled to control better ourbreaks of COVID19, when we had access to these granular epidemiological data.

"Do not let the people see, even in health matter, where are still politicising. I ask again that the Minister of Health be firm in dealing with his ministry and also the Perikatan Nasional government so as not to impose this blunt and crude lockdown method,” he added.

Dr Dzulkefly also criticised the way the Minister of Finance had allocated special expenditure for the Ministry of Health through the 2021 Budget.

“The Finance Minister said the lost allocation was actually placed in a special program under certain details. But not so. When we observe, after we sum up public medicine, we find that the deficit is still RM4.269 billion. We also didn't see the allocation for the RM3billion for rhe vaccine. I stand to be corrected.

"If we reject the special program, it is still a deficit and a void of RM1.397 billion.

We have missed the opportunity to really spend on this so-called Covid Budget as to strengthen primary care, public health and even hospital-based curative care to handle both Covid and non Covid or the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs),” he added.

He said the 2021 Budget was very disappointing because it does not really take the opportunity to enhance health spending, which has admittedly not met the expenditure, for many years, in the same league of the upper middle-income economy.