Agong urges Malaysians to set aside differences in fight against COVID-19

KUALA LUMPUR: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today urged Malaysians to set aside political, racial and religious differences in the fight against COVID-19, which continues to record four-digit positive cases daily since the end of last year.

Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said His Majesty was confident that with the support and cooperation of all parties, the country will be able to once again flatten the curve of the COVID-19 infection as well as ease the burden borne by frontliners.

His Majesty also expressed concern over the increase in the need for intensive care and the use of beds in intensive care units (ICU), especially in the Klang Valley, which recorded a sharp increase in positive cases, said Ahmad Fadil.

“Due to the increasing need for intensive care and the use of ICU beds, critically ill COVID-19 patients have to be placed in other government hospitals and this could affect the treatment of non-COVID-19 patients,” said Al Sultan Abdullah in a statement issued by Istana Negara, today.

Yesterday, the country recorded 3,306 cases of new COVID-19 infections while 15 COVID-19 hospitals reported over 70 per cent of COVID-19 (non-ICU) bed usage.

-- BERNAMA