YOURSAY | Anyone game for the health portfolio in Sabah?

YOURSAY | ‘It is very telling that there was almost a stampede when it came to the state Works Ministry.’

Sabah govt dithers over health portfolio despite surge in Covid-19 cases

Sabah health minister appointment unnecessary – SAPP

Avicenna: Nobody wants to take up the health portfolio in Sabah. It's a poison chalice. No one in the present state government has any experience, knowledge and the perseverance to take up the challenge.

And they won't be able to enrich themselves with this portfolio. Notice the big ruckus over the state works minister portfolio as opposed to the muted response of the health portfolio.

The blame for the current mess in Sabah, and by extension Peninsular Malaysia, lays squarely on the politicians’ lap. All those involved in causing the collapse of the previous state government and subsequently the need for an election in Sabah should be held accountable.

The attempt to replace the Warisan government had its roots right in Putrajaya and needless to say, it went all the way up to the highest hierarchy of the federal government.

Former chief minister Musa Aman and the 13 politicians who jumped ship in the middle of the pandemic and triggered the collapse of the Warisan government should forever be remembered for their selfish actions and be held responsible for this disaster.

The Health Ministry needs to give us an answer on why they did not advise for a partial or complete lockdown when there was an increase in cases in the east coast of Sabah in early September.

Common sense would indicate the movement of people within the state and between Sabah and the peninsula in such a time would be reckless and irresponsible.

While Health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah has been praised for handling the initial phase of the pandemic, he owes all healthcare workers in Sabah an explanation for his failure to advise the government appropriately.

Pokokelapa: In order to have a good economy, the most important criteria are education and health. Only then, we can talk about stability and prosperity.

If the top itself is lacking these fundamentals, then it is useless. What is the second deputy health minister, who was appointed to look after the East Malaysian sector, doing?

It appears that nobody wants that responsibility as this portfolio is not lucrative. If Deputy Chief Minister Bung Moktar Radin is there to really serve the people, he would not have bargained for the works portfolio but take the health portfolio instead.

State Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Shahelmey Yahya says he only looks after the people’s welfare. Isn’t health part of people’s welfare?

Vijay 47: The Sabah opportunist politicians are fully aware that heavy is the head that wears the health crown.

Thus, none of these cowards wants to assume responsibility for the most pressing matter right now in the whole country. This is especially relevant to Sabah where the Covid-19 attack seems to be exploding almost beyond control.

Be appointed the state health minister and there goes everything you thought was your own – there goes your free time when you have to be alert and available 24/7, attending briefings, analysing the latest medical updates and most importantly, making appropriate serious decisions.

Is there anyone in the Sabah cabinet capable of assuming such an urgent role and taking it on the chin?

In their statements to the media about the state health portfolio, every single cabinet member came out with some inane comment, washing their hands of any connection with Covid-19.

The gems they issued included “the matter is under federal stewardship”; health, which involves the lives of the state’s citizens, “has been group under community development”, this obviously from deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan; and the most priceless one of them all - “we don’t want functions to overlap”.

It is very telling that there was almost a stampede when it came to the state Works Ministry.

Once A Pristine Land: The most important priority is the appointment of a fully dedicated Sabah health minister immediately. His responsibility at the moment is more important than any other ministers, including the CM.

The people of Sabah have suffered rather badly during the last Covid-19 wave. We do not need a minister who already has another portfolio to lead us in this fight against an invisible enemy.

Peaky Blinders: Are they joking? The health portfolio is literally the most important portfolio at a time of crisis like this.

It is just so ironic that it was revealed that Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Mohd Noor was tested positive for Covid-19.

Thickskin: Probably, looking at the list of state assemblypersons in the present Sabah government, there is no one capable of taking up the health portfolio. It is a hot potato and will only lead to brickbats.

Just look at the federal health minister's statements on Covid-19, and he is actually a doctor.

Cryo: All of this would not have started if Musa wasn't intent on toppling the government amid the Covid-19 situation.

Enough of bigotries from these people from the Peninsular parties, Sabahans need to stand up to this injustice.

GreenQuokka4577: Put simply, the purpose of Sabah minister of health was to press the federal government to deliver its responsibilities.

We need funds to build health infrastructures. If we do not have someone who can fight for us in Sabah as an equal partner, how are we going to move forward and ensure there will be adequate number of hospitals in every rural area?

This was exactly what former chief minister Shafie Apdal was trying to tell us: Do not allow the federal government to play God and we all sit tight in hopes they’d spare our lives.

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