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Anger simmers in Malaysia, as COVID-19 surge strains healthcare system

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Rozanna Latiff, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/05/25/20210525-family-members-wearing-protective-suits-take-part-in-a-burial-rtr.jpg"/><figcaption>Family members wearing protective suits take part in a burial of a victim of the coronavirus disease at a cemetery in Gombak, Malaysia May 23, 2021. <em>Lim Huey Teng, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>KUALA LUMPUR—Five medical workers in white protective gear battle to resuscitate a coronavirus patient in a quarantine center on the edge of the Malaysian capital, but eventually fail.</p><p>The struggle, caught in a minute-long video clip on social media, exemplifies for many Malaysians their government&#x27;s latest misstep in its efforts to combat the pandemic, as daily infections and deaths hit a record high in the past week.</p><p>&quot;Our boat is sinking. The captain is out of touch,&quot; one Twitter user commented on last weekend&#x27;s video that used the hashtag #KerajaanGagal, or &#x27;failed government&#x27;, which has been employed for weeks by Malaysians to voice their anger.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/05/25/21/special-treatment-netizens-binatikos-ang-pagpapabakuna-ni-alice-dixson">Special treatment? Netizens binatikos ang pagpapabakuna ni Alice Dixson</a></li></ul><p>Despite a state of emergency imposed in January, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin&#x27;s government has been seen as struggling to rein in the infections, triggering public fury.</p><p>The health ministry and Muhyiddin&#x27;s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/25/21/sea-games-olympics-athletes-vaccination">Vaccination of Olympic and SEA Games-bound athletes set for Friday</a></li></ul><p>The patient in the video clip, Abdul Malik Daim, 43, died beside his bunk bed in the quarantine facility on Saturday, following a three-day stay after he tested positive for the disease.</p><p>Although he had a persistent cough and an initial screening diagnosed him as being obese with high blood pressure, Abdul Malik was seen as a low-risk patient in the absence of other symptoms, said his brother, Abdul Rahim Daim.</p><p>&quot;Perhaps they should have had another check or told the patients to watch out for each other, so that they can get help in time,&quot; he told Reuters.</p><p>Malaysia has reported fewer cases than neighbors Indonesia and the Philippines, but its ratio of infections, at more than 16,000 per million, is Southeast Asia&#x27;s highest, data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies shows.</p><p>However, the public anger may not have immediate political impact, as Malaysia&#x27;s parliament is suspended during the emergency and elections are not due until 2023. Muhyiddin has said early elections will be held when it is safe to do so.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/25/21/covid-vaccine-refuse-malacanang-back-end-line">Palace: &#x27;Back to end of line&#x27; for those on priority list but refuse available COVID-19 vaccines</a></li></ul><div> <strong>&quot;JOINT RESPONSIBILITY&quot;</strong></div><p>On Sunday, Muhyiddin said he was ready for criticism so long as the public played its part in cutting the numbers.</p><p>&quot;They can call me &#x27;stupid prime minister&#x27;, it&#x27;s OK,&quot; he said in a televised interview. &quot;I know how difficult it is to manage, but this is our joint responsibility.&quot;</p><p>Authorities have been criticized for not imposing tougher curbs or taking stronger action against lockdown violations. A vaccination campaign begun in February has sparked accusations that some recipients got lower doses than needed.</p><p>Malaysia&#x27;s surge is straining the resources of hospitals, where occupancy rates exceeded 70% last week in beds and intensive care units for virus patients.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/25/21/covid-vaccine-less-1-percent-malacanang-critics">COVID-19 vaccination too slow? Palace says critics praying for drive to fail</a></li></ul><p>Health experts say Abdul Malik&#x27;s death was a sign the system was being overwhelmed and called for stronger measures to avert collapse.</p><p>Authorities tightened curbs over the weekend but stopped short of a full lockdown, saying some industries needed to remain open.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/25/21/china-passes-500-million-covid19-doses-vaccine-target">COVID-19: China passes 500 million doses in rush to meet vaccination target</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Many are concerned that a strict lockdown will damage the economy,&quot; said Adeeba Kamarulzaman, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Malaya.</p><p>&quot;But the impact is going to be worse, or go on for much longer, if we continue with half-hearted measures.&quot;</p><div><strong>(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)</strong></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/25/21/philippines-covid19-cases-update-may252021">Philippines&#x27; COVID-19 deaths surpass 20,000-mark</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1692467" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Despite a state of emergency imposed in January, Prime Minister Yassin's government has been seen as struggling to rein in the infections, triggering public fury.<br /> </p>

Despite a state of emergency imposed in January, Prime Minister Yassin's government has been seen as struggling to rein in the infections, triggering public fury.

Anger simmers in Malaysia, as COVID-19 surge strains healthcare system

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Anger simmers in Malaysia, as COVID-19 surge strains healthcare system

Rozanna Latiff,

Reuters

Published May 26, 2021 05:40 AM PHT

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