KUALA LUMPUR: The hotline for the Covid-19 Assessment Centre (CAC), set up during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic to help Malaysians conduct assessments, can no longer be reached, claimed members of the public.
People have been demanding that the 03-7723 9299 number be reactivated following the spike in Covid-19 infections lately.
On social media, many Malaysians said they tried contacting the number to seek advice on whether they need to conduct self-quarantine or proceed to the nearest health facility, only to discover that it was inactive.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad on Saturday said on X, formerly Twitter, that he would instruct his team to check on the status of the hotline.
He said those with severe Covid-19 symptoms should go to the nearest government health clinic or hospital.
"I'm checking with the team on (the status of) the hotline.
"I hope those infected will get well soon and continuously monitor your symptoms.
"Please go to the nearest klinik kesihatan or hospital if your symptoms are worsening."
He was responding to an X user, @Norishah, who said she was
unable to reach the hotline number.
"I'm now entering my fifth day as a Covid-19 patient. The problem is, is the CAC number 03-7723 9299, as stated in the MySejahtera app?
"I've not been able to get through since the first day I contracted Covid. I hope you can do something," she wrote.
Another X user, @mazwanmisbah, cited a similar experience.
"I tested positive from Dec 2 to 6. I called the CAC number, there was no response. We want to know the latest instructions for those who are Covid-positive.
"Even the official website has not been updated."
X user @shohokuboys82 urged the health minister to try calling the number himself.
"Please try to ring the number, especially on weekends. No one is answering.
"In the end, patients are turning up at the hospital emergency wards despite having minor symptoms."