PUTRAJAYA does not have a “clear strategy” on the mass vaccination programme that would give some kind of protection against Covid-19 that had killed nearly 800 people in the country, said Anwar Ibrahim.

The opposition leader said the government was slow in making a decision on vaccines to the point that neighbours Singapore and Indonesia have already started inoculating their population.

“Why are our neighbours successful in taking early action? They have started vaccinating their people.

“They have even gone into the second phase of their vaccination programme. But we are behind,” he said during a Facebook livestream on the government’s management of the pandemic today.

The Port Dickson MP said the people are not interested in piecemeal statements on the vaccination plan.

“We’re not interested in statements. There must be a clear strategy,” he said, demanding that the government outline it.

The government must explain who will be vaccinated first.

“What’s the quantity (of doses ordered) and what’s the cost like?”

Anwar said there must also be transparency over the award of contracts in the purchase of the vaccines.

The problem now is that things are done hush hush “under the umbrella of emergency”.

Different ministries are “doing their own things, making their own decisions in awarding the tenders”.

“All want a piece of the contract without a thought for the rakyat. It’s very worrying,” he said, as good governance would come into question.

Anwar said the lack of transparency might have contributed to the country’s corruption perceptions index falling from 51 to 57 last year.

The spike in cases, he said, is due to the weaknesses in our management of the pandemic.

Anwar also called on the government to address the grouses of the healthcare workers, like looking into why their special allowances have yet to be paid out.

He said it is unforgivable to make them suffer in such a way.

“These are people who have placed their lives to help the rakyat.”

The PKR president suggests that the government recruit more people to alleviate some of the front-liners’ burden.

Mandatory testing should also be widened to high-risk groups, he added.

“We are not belittling the efforts of the government,” he said, dismissing criticism of the opposition’s actions.

“We are just fearful as the situation is getting worse.” – February 3, 2021.