Press Statement By Sim Kiat Leng :
With the latest announcement by SDMC that Kuching, Sibu and Miri have been categorized as red zones, SUPP Dr Sim Kui Hian should follow the footsteps of Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah to apologise to Sarawakians in failing to prevent the current 4th wave of Covid-19 in Sarawak.
Dr Sim Kui Hian is a medical doctor and proudly boasts to have worked in Melbourne for 17 years before returning to Sarawak. As a doctor with such vast experience, Dr Sim Kui Hian should not only be well versed with the effects of Covid-19 but also have better understanding and knowledge in combating this global pandemic.
I believe that it is due to this experience and medical background that Dr Sim Kui Hian was roped in as one of the key persons within the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC). SDMC’s main role is to help in curbing the spread of Covid-19 and also to provide better Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and/or regulations to this effect. Therefore, as an important person in this fight against Covid-19, Dr Sim Kui Hian should instill public confidence by leading from example and not practice double standards.
For many months, DAP has been condemning the act of GPS leaders which always conveniently escape the strict SOP when they are concerned. One clear example is when Dr Sim Kui Hian went for a Perikatan Nasional (PN) political meeting in Kuala Lumpur when the cases in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya were on a rise. What made it worse is that Dr Sim Kui Hian had the audacity to claim that this meeting is an ‘essential service’ which angered many front liners who are actually risking their lives everyday to provide essential services.
Dr Sim Kui Hian and his fellow GPS leaders should stop all such preferential treatment because and not hide behind the SDMC and its exemptions at their whim and fancy. Practice what you preach and lead by example. It is time for the GPS leaders to realise that it is due to such actions that has led many Sarawakian to lose confidence in adhering to the SOP set in place to curb the virus. To make matters worse, the whole country has now entered into a state of emergency as declared by the Agong.
GPS leaders should take the opportunity to create policies and/or regulations that will not stifle the recovery of the economy but instead instill public confidence. At the same time, I urge the public to be more cautious and adhere strictly to the SOPs act set out by SDMC to fight this Covid-19 together.
