KUALA LUMPUR: The existing laws in the country including the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 or Act 342, together with strict implementation of the standard operating procedures (SOP) will be sufficient in curbing the third wave of Covid-19 cases.
The Malaysian Health Coalition in a statement urged the government to remain focused on the health aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in Sabah.
"The health and welfare of the people must be above all else. The use of laws and government powers must be proportional to the threat of the pandemic (to public health).
"A disproportionate response is counterproductive and will erode public trust. In turn, that will result in non-adherence to existing laws and SOPs and possibly worsen the pandemic.
"Do not use health as a political tool," it said.
It was speculated that a state of emergency was being considered amid the increasing number of new Covi-19 cases, which entails the proroguing of the Parliament to enable the government to pool all efforts in battling the pandemic.
"The health professionals of Malaysia are united against Covid-19 in solidarity with social, economic and democratic principles.
"We have a duty to the rakyat, including the duty to protect the integrity and credibility of our health service," the statement added.
The coalition comprises signatories from 21 organisations and eight individuals.
The organisations include Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, Academy of Family Physicians Malaysia, Asthma Malaysia, College of Anaesthesiologists, College of Physicians, College of Surgeons, Islamic Medical Association Malaysia (IMAM), Lung Cancer Network of Malaysia, Malaysian Association of Dental Public Health Specialists and Malaysian Association of Environmental Health.
Other signatories included the Malaysian Mental Health Association, Malaysian Paediatric Association, Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists, Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology, Malaysian Society of Intensive Care, Malaysian Thoracic Society, Medical Practitioners Coalition Assoc of Malaysia, National Cancer Society Malaysia, Public Health Malaysia and Public Health Physicians Association.
The statement also contained signatories from health professionals including Datuk Dr Amar Singh, Prof Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, Prof Dr Mohd Zamrin Dimon, Prof Dr Roslina Abdul Manap, Prof Dr Shaiful Bahari Ismail, Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, Prof Dr Zaleha Abdullah Mahdy and Dr Khor Swee Kheng.