CHIEF secretary Mohd Zuki Ali has apologised over Putrajaya’s failure to invite chief ministers and menteris besar from Pakatan Harapan states for a special meeting on the movement control order and Covid-19 at the Prime Minister’s Department today.
In a statement, the country’s top civil servant said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had directed that all menteris besar and chief ministers be called for the meeting today.
However, only the state development directors of the five opposition states were invited.
He said the directive was issued last night.
“On behalf of the meeting secretariat, I apologise over this mistake, which had resulted in invitations being sent to menteris besar and chief ministers ruled by the federal government’s component parties.
“For the states of Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Sabah, the invitation was sent to the state development directors,” he said.
Zuki said the prime minister viewed the matter seriously as he had made a stand to work with all state governments, irrespective of which party helms it, in the fight against the spread of Covid-19.
“He has directed that all menteris besar and chief ministers be invited to the next Covid-19 meeting,” he said.
The statement comes as the PH secretariat council revealed it was disappointed that Muhyiddin did not include the opposition state representatives for a meeting on such a serious matter.
All the aforementioned states have PH state governments, while in Kedah, Bersatu is still cooperating with PH even though the party has left the coalition at the federal level.
These states have also been affected by Covid-19 cases, besides comprising about 40% of the country’s population.
“We regret Putrajaya’s move not to invite the menteris besar and chief ministers of these states.
“If it is because they are not running their state government in the same political direction as the federal government now, then it is the people who will suffer because of such narrow political thinking,” the secretariat council had said in a statement, as Malaysia reported its first two Covid-19 deaths and a total of 673 cases today.
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari had also tweeted his disappointment after Muhyiddin posted photos of the meeting on Facebook.
“Selangor is the state most affected by Covid-19; we’re disappointed not to have been involved in important matters that involve the lives of the people. This is against the spirit of working together, which the state is willing to do with all parties, including the federal government,” Amirudin wrote.
Muhyiddin had, on Monday night in a special live telecast, announced the movement control order effective tomorrow until March 31.
It involves a ban on mass gatherings, including religious, sports, cultural events and wedding receptions.
Malaysians cannot leave the country, including for work in Singapore and Thailand, while foreigners are banned from entering during the two-week period.
Schools, universities and colleges must also close.
Only government and private sector essential services, as well as supermarkets and shops selling food and essential items, can operate during the period. – March 17, 2020.
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Comments
Why state development directors of these states?
Posted 4 years ago by GRA Comm · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by S L · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by Kinetica Cho · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply
But I believe that was a blatant lie . Sad indeed
Posted 4 years ago by Eternally_yours W · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by Wen Chiuan Woo · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply