He questioned if the government was serious in controlling the latest wave of infections, which rose to 19,090 as of yesterday.

“Instead of being fully and single-mindedly devoted to overcoming the latest wave of infections that has brought the total to nearly three million cases, there have been no meetings of the top panel on Covid-19 management for the last three months,” he said in a statement today.

Lim, a member of the committee since October, said there had been only three meetings – on Oct 15 and 22 and Nov 5 last year.

“Are the ministers sleeping on the job when decisive leadership is required at this moment of urgency?” he asked.

He also said the government should stop politicising the pandemic for its “selfish interests” in the Johor state elections, which will take place on March 12.

“If the government decides that the latest Omicron wave is a real and present danger, then the Johor elections should be postponed and enhanced Covid-19 SOPs imposed.

“The government cannot have it both ways, by allowing the Johor elections to proceed and yet impose enhanced SOPs and banning ceramahs. Restricting campaigning and banning ceramahs will give the ruling parties an unfair advantage as they possess sole media and physical access to voters.”

FMT previously reported that electoral watchdog Bersih wanted the Election Commission to announce the SOPs for candidates and parties as soon as possible for the Johor polls, instead of waiting until nomination day, like they did for the Melaka elections last November.

Bersih chairman Thoman Fann said ceramahs should be allowed, given the high rate of vaccinations in Johor and the much lower hospitalisation rate for those infected with the Omicron variant.