KUALA LUMPUR: Tighter normal working procedures (SOP) are wanted within the upcoming Melaka state election as a result of Covid-19 transmission charges stay excessive within the state, says Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
The Deputy Well being Minister mentioned Melaka recorded 262 new circumstances as of Sunday (Oct 24) with 2,651 energetic circumstances statewide.
“The truth is, practically 6,000 shut contacts with energetic circumstances are at present underneath supervision,” he mentioned throughout his speech on the annulment of the Emergency Ordinances in Parliament on Monday (Oct 25).
He additionally identified that sporadic circumstances stood at a excessive of 36%.
Dr Noor Azmi mentioned because of this, gatherings throughout political campaigning might trigger a surge in Covid-19 circumstances.
“That’s the reason we’re taking a severe strategy by tightening the SOP.
“Based mostly on the expertise of the Sabah state election, the federal government is attempting its greatest to make sure that an identical state of affairs will not happen in Melaka,” he mentioned.
A spike in Covid-19 circumstances was believed to be triggered after the Sabah polls befell in September final 12 months.
Day by day Covid-19 figures had surged to a excessive of over 20,000 circumstances a day in August.
As of Monday (Oct 25), there have been 4,782 new circumstances.
Earlier within the Dewan Rakyat, the ban on public gatherings was additionally supported by Steven Choong (Unbiased-Tebrau) who mentioned that it might stop Covid-19 circumstances from rising.
“In politics, we should know when to prioritise the folks’s well being as our fundamental agenda.
“Sadly, a few of us who’re egocentric have brought on the Melaka state election to happen at an unsuitable time,” mentioned Choong.
Opposition MPs similar to Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PH-Setiawangsa) known as for equal media entry for all events concerned within the Melaka polls.
“In Singapore’s election final 12 months, they launched a tenet of the best way to attain voters by TV and media.
“I urge the federal government to do the identical,” he mentioned.
On Sunday (Oct 24), Well being Ministry Khairy Jamaluddin mentioned a ban was positioned on all political gatherings in Melaka from Oct 25 to Nov 27.
“As the danger of transmission of Covid-19 stays excessive, particularly with the transmission of the Delta variant in the neighborhood and the rising variety of new circumstances, these political actions will solely additional enhance the chance of extra infections,” Khairy mentioned.
Nominations have been set for Nov 8 with polling on Nov 20.
