COMMENT | The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) views with deep concern the statement made by Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday, concerning the Emergency Ordinance (EO).

The EO should be used responsibly and not to bully or arm-twist the private healthcare sector in order to use its resources.

For the record, the private healthcare sector has been consistently offering their services in the battle against Covid-19 from the very start of the pandemic.

It must also be noted that most of the private hospitals are owned by government-linked companies (GLCs) where the government as a shareholder is a beneficiary of its profits and dividends.

The EO should be used for a collaborative approach in finding and hastening solutions by cutting red tape and removing regulatory burdens for seamless implementation.