Wee hands out face masks to media personnel

Here you go: Dr Wee distributing face masks to media personnel at the Parliament building in Kuala Lumpur.

Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, TARRENCE TAN and FATIMAH ZAINAL

MEDIA personnel covering Dewan Rakyat were provided with face masks courtesy of Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Dr Wee visited the media centre and personally handed out boxes of disposable face masks.

“The role of the media is very important for the nation and society in terms of channelling accurate information, even more so when faced with Covid-19, ” Dr Wee said in a Facebook post shortly after his visit yesterday.

He noted that the media did not merely report on current and historical events but also played a role in instilling unity and harmony in the country.

Dr Wee also advised media personnel to stay healthy and safe as they faced the challenges brought about by Covid-19.

The use of face masks was made mandatory from Aug 1 at crowded public places where social distancing cannot be practised and on public transport.

The ruling was imposed by the government following a recent surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.

Meanwhile, the government would also reduce the ceiling price for face masks to below RM1.20, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, following public feedback.

“We are going to reduce it from the proposed RM1.20 to a lower price and the decision will be made in a few days, ” he said in reply to Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) during the Ministerial Question Time.

Khoo had asked if the government would reduce the price of face masks since it was now compulsory to wear them in public areas.

He added that the ruling might be a burden to those in the B40 group.