KSN apologises after pro-Harapan states left out of Covid-19 meeting
Government Chief Secretary Mohd Zuki Ali has apologised after chief ministers and menteri besars of pro-Pakatan Harapan states have been left out of a meeting to coordinate efforts to combat Covid-19.
He said Prime Minister Muhyiddin had instructed the meeting’s secretariat for all heads of state governments to be invited to the meeting, without exception.
Government Chief Secretary Mohd Zuki Ali has apologised after chief ministers and menteri besars of pro-Pakatan Harapan states have been left out of a meeting to coordinate efforts to combat Covid-19.
Zuki (photo) said Prime Minister Muhyiddin had instructed the meeting’s secretariat for all heads of state government to be invited to the meeting, without exception.
“On behalf of the meeting secretariat, I wish to apologise for the mistake in relation to the invitation, which was only sent out to chief ministers and menteri besars of federal government component parties.
“For Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Sabah, only the state development director was invited,” he said in a statement today.
He said the prime minister views the matter seriously and has made it clear that he wants to work with all state government regardless of the political allegiance, especially on a matter of national importance such as the Covid-19 outbreak.
“The prime minister had ordered that all menteri besars and chief ministers are to be invited in future special meetings to curtain the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
Earlier today, Muhyiddin had chaired a meeting with state governments to discuss efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, which claimed two lives in Malaysia today.
This after a movement control order that will come into effect at midnight tonight.
However, only menteri besars and chief ministers from Perikatan Nasional-led states were invited to the meeting.
Pakatan Harapan has criticised the move, noting that lives are at stake.
Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir - who is part of a Bersatu faction supporting Pakatan Harapan - quipped, “Maybe there are no Covid-19 cases in Kedah."
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, meanwhile said Malaysians must work together and set aside their difference in face of a crisis.
Keep up with the latest information on the outbreak in the country with Malaysiakini's free Covid-19 tracker.
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