Health Ministry's political post on Facebook page irks netizens

KUALA LUMPUR (April 15): A now-deleted political Facebook post on the Health Ministry's official page has caused a storm, with many saying the ministry should remain neutral and apolitical, Malaysiakini reported yesterday.

The report said the posting, which was briefly accessible last night, had shared an excerpt from the "Friends of Dr Adham Baba" page, which sought to portray the health minister as a man of action.

"The Perikatan Nasional health minister wasn't busy talking. Early in his first day in office, he immediately blocked tourists from Iran, Italy, and (South) Korea.

"He continued to ensure good ties with China with the Foreign Ministry to help with the supply of equipment in Malaysia.

"Can you see the difference?" the posting read.

Malaysiakini said the original posting on the "Friends of Dr Adham Baba" page goes on to attack the previous Pakatan Harapan government as being ineffective at dealing with the Covid-19 crisis.

Malaysiakini also said the post on the Health Ministry's page was taken down shortly after it was made after it elicited strong negative reactions to the politicking.

Health Ministry communications staffers told the media via WhatsApp that this was a technical error due to a "mistaken login".

However, according to Malaysiakini, a WhatsApp chat screenshot has gone viral on social media alleging that the posting was made on the orders of a senior aide to Adham.

A Health Ministry officer who had made the remark clarified with the media that the screenshot only showed a fraction of the conversation and that the information from the screenshot was wrong.

In a Facebook post yesterday morning, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak said the government should not emulate Harapan.

"Don't use official government channels including Facebook pages to troll or play with propaganda," he said without making reference to any specific post.

Syahredzan Johan, the political secretary to DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, meanwhile, said that the Health Ministry should not engage in politicking.

"The Health Ministry page should not share posts which are clearly political.

"But the question is how did this happen? Is it because there is a politician who is now a page admin? Is there political interference in the ministry's corporate communications?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) also lamented the politicking on the Health Ministry's Facebook page.

"The government's official media is supposed to deliver the government's efforts or successes without triggering arguments involving political ideologies," said Cuepacs president Adnan Mat.

Adnan said those who have access to the government's official channel must act professional else they will erode public confidence in the civil service.

He added that civil servants must carry out their duties by being neutral and apolitical.

Adham had previously been critically panned for suggesting that Covid-19 infections can be prevented by drinking warm water.

Similar advice had already been debunked by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah distanced the ministry from the advice, saying the ministry relied on, and used, evidence-based treatments only.

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