Anwar questions effectiveness of the MCO and whacks slow vaccination exercise

(FMT) – Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has called for Putrajaya to reveal the expected drop in Covid-19 cases following the latest round of movement restrictions.

This is because the country was placed under the movement control order (MCO) in a bid to reduce the number of infections, he said.

“We suppose that with the MCO the number of cases will decrease, but we want to know the plan. How many reductions in cases will there be in the second week, third week?,” he asked during a webinar this evening.

“The leaders must provide an explanation. They should not be arrogant and not want to listen to experts or ignore studies that are based on science and data,” he added.

The Port Dickson MP said a breakdown of cases would help the government formulate an exit strategy.

Such data, he added, would also inject confidence in the public.

“This way we will know how effective the MCO is and can come up with a realistic estimation as to when we can lift (the MCO).”

Anwar went on to question the need for a nationwide lockdown, saying there was no one-size-fits-all solution.

He said the infections in Johor could be contained a lot faster compared with Penang, adding that movement restrictions should take into account other variables and that solutions should be based on research.

He also blasted the slow roll-out of vaccines and questioned the accountability for the hundreds of Covid-19 related deaths over the past few months.

“If we had received the vaccine as promised in March and April, we wouldn’t be in this situation.

“Who will take responsibility? The government? Ministers?,” he asked.