KJ admits 'errors' as some ministers flout rules against Covid-19

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin conceded that errors had been made with regard to government leaders setting a good example in the battle against Covid-19.

The minister coordinating the vaccination efforts against Covid-19 acknowledged in an interview with Australia-based Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that headlines about government ministers flouting the standard operating procedures (SOPs) had damaged the credibility of the lockdown.

Khairy noted that “leadership by example is very important”.

“I think on that score, we have made some errors there,” he was quoted as saying.

Among the leaders that have been caught violating the Covid-19 SOP recently include Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mustapa Mohamed and Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon.

Khairy: Hard to get people to comply with SOPs

Khairy added that it was also getting hard to get people to comply with the SOPs due to fatigue.

“Of course, we could have done certain things better.

“And also, after a while, it’s very difficult to get the public to adhere to the (restrictions) simply because of fatigue. And I’m not blaming the public here.

“Because to observe these very, very unnatural limitations and restrictions on your behaviour or your movements (is difficult).

“Eventually, there will be a time where people just let their guard down,” Khairy said.

Malaysia had seen the Covid-19 situation in the country, particularly in the Klang Valley, significantly deteriorate despite a “total lockdown” since June 1.

The country hit five-digit new daily Covid-19 cases on Tuesday and continued to climb to 11,618 yesterday.

The silver lining, the Australian report noted, was that Malaysia is now seeing one of the fastest vaccination rates in the world after a slow start.

Yesterday, Malaysia administered 434,828 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in a day.

“I think we are at the stage now where we really need to vaccinate ourselves out of the situation that we have found ourselves in,” Khairy was quoted as saying.

He noted that countries that have been doing worse have seen their situation improved by the early arrival of the Covid-19 vaccines.

For Malaysia, Khairy said Putrajaya had ensured not to put all eggs in one basket by securing Covid-19 vaccine supplies from multiple sources.

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