Muntoh Fong, secretary of the Association for Residential Aged Care Operators of Malaysia, posted a video on Facebook saying he was very worried about the future of nursing homes with the ongoing rise of Covid-19 cases in these homes.

Earlier today, three care homes in Penang were closed, affecting about 200 residents, after 36 Covid-19 cases were found.

Fong said he was upset that many people who were not in the at-risk groups had already been vaccinated but not the people at nursing homes.

He said nursing home operators were considered frontline workers but until now, there was no news on any vaccination plans.

“We also keep getting messages from the government for care centres to register the elderly for vaccinations. We have already complied but nothing has happened,” he said.

He added the association had offered to help the health ministry with vaccinations but was told they were not needed.

He also accused the health ministry of having called away 200 to 300 nurses from nursing homes for emergency assistance in handling the pandemic.

“This jeopardises nursing homes and right now over 30 nursing homes have been infected by Covid-19 but thankfully death rates are low. This is because we work very hard and we work with what we have to take care of the elderly,” he said.

Fong said many family members of residents in nursing homes were upset because standard procedures did not allow them to see their elderly relatives “even when they die”.

He added “I don’t know how long we can hold on,” and urged the government to take action now or be accused of not caring about the elderly.

FMT is seeking a response from the health ministry.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DATA ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN MALAYSIA