Health DG: Enough is enough

PETALING JAYA: Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has had it up to here, and scolded Malaysians for taking to the road in large numbers just two days before the nationwide total lockdown takes effect.

“Where are you headed this weekend?

“Mass movement is still happening despite interstate and district travel restrictions, ” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

His post was accompanied by several photographs of massive lines of vehicles choking up the highway toll plazas in Gombak and Sungai Besi.

Dr Noor Hisham expressed his worry that such mass movement of people would not help in the battle against Covid-19.

The nation has seen record numbers of Covid-19 daily infections, surpassing 8,000 cases for several days in a row with a new record high of 9,020 daily cases recorded yesterday.

He appealed to all Malaysians to remain in their homes and only venture out if necessary.

He warned of dire consequences if the nation’s healthcare system collapses under the strain of increasing Covid-19 cases.

Bumper to bumper: Long queues of vehicles are seen before the roadblock near the Gombak toll plaza in Gombak. — Bernama

“If we collapse, you or your family member may not receive the appropriate treatment.

“More unfortunate is when there are no beds for you at the hospital... what more if you are in a critical stage but all the ICU (intensive care unit) beds are full, ” he said in a grim reminder of the situation at government hospitals.

Although medical frontliners are bone-tired, Dr Noor Hisham said that they would continue their battle against the pandemic.

He posted several photographs of exhausted medical frontliners in an earlier Facebook post, which drew the support from Malaysians who expressed gratitude over the sacrifices made by the frontliners.

In Gombak, police said “almost all” motorists who went through the roadblock near the Gombak toll plaza yesterday morning had valid reasons and permission to travel interstate.

Gombak OCPD Asst Comm ACP Arifai Tarawe said the number of vehicles was at its peak between 9am and noon, and this caused a 1km to 2km crawl near the toll plaza.

“Police personnel at the roadblock strictly checked all vehicles passing through the roadblock, ” he told reporters.

Malaysians uploaded images of the congestion on social media, alleging that the motorists were “escaping” the Klang Valley before the full lockdown starts on Tuesday.

“The assumption is not true as so far, the majority of the motorists had valid reasons and permission to travel, ” said ACP Arifai.

However, 14 motorists were told to turn back as they did not have valid reasons to travel, he added.

“Some had police permits but the reasons given were unconvincing and unreliable.

“A couple had police permits to travel to Pahang for their own wedding, but there was no mention of when the wedding would take place and they failed to provide additional proof. We told them to turn back, ” he said.

“Another individual was travelling to see his wife as long-distance couples are permitted to travel.

“However, he was with another person when he was supposed to travel alone. He was also told to turn back.

“We only allow those to travel interstate due to various reasons including emergency, work and medical reasons, while long-distance couples are also allowed to travel, ” he added.