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KUALA LUMPUR – The decision to implement Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) by the book for the 15th Melaka election was not an attempt to jeopardise or weaken Umno, said Khairy Jamaluddin.
The health minister stressed that the decision was made to protect the people, election machinery, and leaderships of all parties involved from being infected with Covid-19, besides avoiding a sharp increase in positive cases of the disease, as happened after the Sabah election last year.
He said the decision also reflected that ministers from Umno were able to perform their duties well, including himself as health minister for the sake of pandemic management.
“During the Sabah election, there was no vaccine yet and compliance with SOPs was very loose, leading to a sharp increase in cases. We wanted to prevent it from happening again, so I had to tighten the SOPs and be firm. With whoever violated the SOPs, we took action, and I don’t think it impeded the party.
“I perform my duties as the health minister representing Umno. I want them (the people) to see this minister (from) Umno, who is at least doing his job well. That is what I should be evaluated on in terms of my work (as a minister),” he said.
He said this as a panellist of a special interview programme entitled Dilema Covid dan Politik (The Covid-19 Dilemma and Politics) broadcast live on Umno Online’s Facebook page last night.
At the Melaka polls, Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Melaka Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh were each compounded RM10,000 for violating the election SOPs and not wearing face masks when they were conducting house-to-house campaign activities. – Bernama, December 31, 2021
