KOTA KINABALU: The Community Empowerment Initiative Sabah (CEIS) has urged the state government to increase its engagement with non-governmental organisations (NGO) to expedite aid distribution.
CEIS, a Sabah-based NGO, said the Covid-19 pandemic in the state is much more than a health crisis which requires fast response from the government and civil societies.
"The resolve and sacrifice of frontline health workers must be matched by every individual and political leader to put in place measures to end the pandemic.
"What is glaringly lacking in Sabah is transparency and effective communication between the government and the people, and coordination between the Health Ministry, State Health Department and the local hospitals," CEIS said in a statement.
On Oct 1, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced RM50 million to assist people affected by Covid-19 of which RM10 million would be used to provide food baskets.
On Oct 13, the state government had also said the Federal Government has allocated RM50 million to top up the existing state government allocation.
"The people cannot help but question where and how is the RM100 million allocation being spent?
"Given the urgency of the situation, is it not possible for the Federal or State Government to promptly disburse the funds for the immediate purchase of the necessary tools and equipment," CEIS said, adding that despite assurance from the government and authorities that they were handling the matter well, CEIS and other NGOs were still receiving personal calls from civilians and hospitals for help.
CEIS added the State Government should allocate a certain percentage of the RM50 million to the Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia and also to other NGOs which have been proven effective in humanitarian coordination during an emergency at both national and international levels to help source and distribute necessary medical supplies, tools and equipment.
During the recent spike of Covid-19 in Sabah, Tzu Chi had allocated a few million ringgit to assist hospitals.
"There were 250 beds sent to the Tawau Hospital, 70 beds to the Keningau Hospital, 70 beds to the Sepanggar Rela Centre under the purview of the Tuaran Hospital, as well as 90 beds to the Penampang Cultural Hall under the purview of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
"There will be another 1,000 beds coming in Nov 1 to stand-by for the expected further increase in Covid-19 related cases," the organisation said, adding that the portable beds were uniquely designed in Taiwan in response to the flooding situation in Pakistan in 2010.
Apart from that, another NGO Osimal Foundation managed to arrange for the purchase and delivery of mobile isolation negative pressure chambers worth RM130,000 to a local hospital in just a week.