Health Minister says Warisan government won’t be sidelined
Published on: Friday, July 10, 2020
By: Ricardo Unto
Kota Kinabalu: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (pic) assured that Sabah will not be sidelined in any programmes held by the Health Ministry in the State, although the Warisan-led State Government is in the opposition.In particular, he said any differences should be set aside in handling the Covid-19 outbreak.
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“For the sake of national safety, we must put aside any disagreement or other agendas,” he said after a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, at the State Administrative Centre, Thursday.
“And that is why we build a good rapport (between the Federal and State governments) and managed to reduce the rate of Covid-19 infection through this network…we have mutual understanding on the course of actions.”
The assurance came amid reports that Shafie had been dropped as guest of honour at a Federal-related event – the State-level Teachers’ Day – on the same day with the Federal Secretary representing him, instead.
Adham also said he has been interacting with State Health Director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi and State Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Frankie Poon to coordinate any information regarding Covid-19, ever since he took over the Federal Health Ministry portfolio.
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“And on the Chief Minister’s side, he is well aware that the spread of Covid-19 should be curbed.
“All briefings and actions had been taken at State-level which means the Chief Minister has been proactive on the need to retain more green zones,” he said, adding that
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Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would launch a community empowerment programme and a Covid-19 awareness campaign on July 26.
“There will also be a celebration at State-level and we received a high level of cooperation from the State Government which means we work together as one.
“The Chief Minister will be invited for the State-level event,” he said.
On Wednesday, a local news portal claimed that Federal “political interference” was behind the dropping of Shafie’s name as guest of honour at the Teachers’ Day event.
It was reported that journalists had been informed that Shafie would be attending, but a late Wednesday afternoon update from the Chief Minister’s office and the State Education Department indicated he would not.
The State Education Department, being a Federal agency under the Federal Education Ministry is under the control of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Federal Government.
The Warisan-led State Government’s political stance has been friendly to the Pakatan Harapan (PH), the opposition at the Federal level.
Shafie had earlier said government-to-government (G2G) cooperation would continue despite the change of Federal Government.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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