Shadow Policy Committee

We are now seeing the army doing their part to only assist the police force to maintain order and to enforce the movement control order nationwide in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. What we had observed till today is the movement control order had since been successful despite some hiccups in certain areas which ought to be strictly enforced. However, asides being only involved in security related enforcement and patrolling activities, the army ought to do more in order to ease the burden of the relevant government agencies in getting their activities or efforts mobilised effectively. First, how about involving the Army’s Medical Corps? The medical corps of the not only the army but the navy and the air force as well ought to be mobilised to assist their civilian counterparts who are now experiencing shortage of medical staffs. Asides, it has been reported that many hospital and medical staffs are also infected with the virus while providing their service in hospitals, ...

Penang has declared the State Assembly building a smoke-free zone in a move to discourage the smoking habit among elected representatives and the public. “Smoking is the first step toward drugs and glue-sniffing and with Penang recording 6,119 drug addicts last year, which is the highest in the country, we need to make a strong stand,” state Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said yesterday. He said the people should respect the Federal Government’s decision to gazette all government offices, including hospitals, police stations and fire departments, as smoke-free zones. “Smokers who need to light up can smoke outside the gate but those who discard cigarette butts on the pavement can be fined RM500 for littering,” he added. Penang is believed to be the first to declare a State Assembly building a no-smoking zone without a designated smoking area. Enforcement officers from the Penang Municipal Council and the state Health Department will con...