Rumour mongers creating panic — Sim
KUCHING: The so-called panic over rabies outbreak is fanned by ‘talking specialists’, said Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He dismissed talks that Sarawak is in a state of panic, which was created by some quarters ‘who are just irresponsible, causing unnecessary panic’.
“We are as transparent as we can, we give out as much information as we can. We do not need all these ‘talking specialists’, giving unnecessary and false information, leading to unnecessary utilisation of resources,” he said when met by reporters after closing the state-level ‘Pengisahan Negaraku’ contest 2017 at Dewan SMK Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Gapor here yesterday.
Dr Sim said the authorities are trying to avert ‘unnecessary deployment of resources and unnecessary vaccination’.
“Can you imagine 200 people with dog bites being admitted into the hospital? How about the ordinary people who are involved in car accidents?”
Asked how many dog bites were recorded each day, he said: “You ask the hospital. Do not forget hospital is a federal agency.”
When prompted for an update on rabies, Dr Sim said: “We give a statement every day at five o’clock.”
A reporter then told him that the daily statement ‘is a rubbish one’ that compelled the minister to jest: “Then you tell (chairman of state Disaster Management Committee) Datuk Amar Douglas (Uggah Embas) that they give rubbish.”
Asked whether any arrest had been made following a police report lodged recently, Dr Sim said: “That is a different agency. You guys know this much better than me.”
He then pointed out that many educational talks had been and would be organised to enlighten the community on rabies.
“Because no information is dangerous. That is why the state Disaster Management Committee releases information when we think we need to give information, sometimes a few times a day.
“But when we don’t give the information, as far as the committee is concerned, it is not absolutely critical. It may be newsworthy to you (reporters) but to others it may not be critical,” he said.
He hoped that more non-governmental organisations (NGOs) would come forward and work with the government in organising talks for the locals.
“There are so many specialists, but ‘talking specialists’ are not knowledge specialists. We leave it to the knowledge specialists to give the right information,” he added.
In his speech earlier, Dr Sim urged Sarawakians not to circulate articles that contained unverified information on the Internet.
He said they had the freedom of speech and sharing of information but they should exercise such right in a wise manner.
“It is very irresponsible to share fake news and it is not funny doing so. Please be more responsible and do not abuse the privilege of freedom of speech and sharing of information.”