She slammed her compatriots in the state government over their constant criticism of her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state, asking what miracles they had performed to bring down the Covid-19 numbers in the state.
After a month-long silence as the attacks against her continued, Norlela said DAP was now taking credit for her hard work, citing the likes of Lim Guan Eng trying to show that Steven Sim and Phee Boon Poh had managed to bring the number of cases down.
Sim and Phee were appointed Penang-Putrajaya Covid-19 liaison and state Covid-19 emergency response team chief, respectively.
Sim is Bukit Mertajam MP, while Phee is a state executive councillor.
Speaking to FMT, Norlela said that ever since the two DAP representatives were given roles to manage Covid-19 issues, they had continued “to wax lyrical” about their successes.
“These men continue to say that as health exco member, I need to learn from them. Tell me, exactly what have they done to bring the cases down since their appointments?
“What miracles have they done? If it is true, show me how they achieved this miracle overnight, give me evidence, I want to see.
“When the cases go up, I am criticised, when the cases go down, I am again criticised … These bullies are on a witch-hunt against women,” the Penanti assemblyman said.
Norlela said that as the health committee chairman, she had lobbied with federal bureaucrats for more Covid-19-related help for Penang, adding that she had been the only state executive councillor in the country allowed to attend high-level meetings meant for federal health authorities before Sim and Phee came into the picture.
She said that at a time when vaccine supply dwindled in Penang, her lobbying with the Selangor government managed to restart a flailing vaccination programme, with 360,400 doses supplied between late August and early September.
Besides Lim, Sim and Phee, she named Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee as another person responsible for undermining her hard work.
In response, Phee, denied the claims of bullying, reminding her that combating Covid-19 was a team effort.
“She needed help badly, and I am assisting, not bullying. I hope she understands that. When there is a problem, people are roped in to help.
“The bottom line is delivery, teamwork gets things done. Her role as a health exco is heavy. She must be grateful that there are people helping her.
“Let’s work together and focus on getting us prepared for the opening up of our borders,” the state welfare committee chairman said.
Lee denied claims of sexism in his comments which were critical of Norlela’s policies and performance.
“The person holding that portfolio could be a man and I would still have said the same thing if the policies and performance were the same. It was never about gender, it has always been about saving lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I would suggest she now stop talking about what has happened and concentrate on working with and learning from Sim and Phee,” he said.
The attacks against Norlela began in the recently concluded state assembly when backbenchers from DAP badgered her over inaccurate data on brought-in-dead cases. She has since told critics that she could only rely on data supplied by the health department.
On Wednesday, Penang PKR representatives in the state assembly issued a statement in support of Norlela, acknowledging her hard work, lending her moral support to get to the next phase of the pandemic.