KUALA LUMPUR: Include members of the Opposition in the country's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, says senior Umno lawmaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

       The Pengerang MP said the government must find a new way to fight Covid-19, and to move away from centralisation, or the "Putrajaya knows all" concept.

       "We cannot have Putrajaya assume it knows everything.

       "We must take the approach as mentioned in the Prime Minister's speech during the tabling of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), which touched on prosperity, inclusivity and sustainability.

       "The most important issue to me is inclusivity," she said while debating the 12MP in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Sept 29).

       She said all lawmakers, regardless of their political affiliation, must play their role to help the government address various challenges in its recovery plan in a comprehensive manner.

       "I would like to congratulate the government for forming the National Recovery Council. I also heard that similar councils will be formed at the state level.

       "I am asking the government to consider the creation of a similar council at the district level as well," she said.

       She said all lawmakers faced huge problems when the pandemic started.

       Among the biggest challenges faced by the MPs was the lack of vaccines initially and efforts to help get people in their constituencies vaccinated.

       "Although the government may say that we were successful in handling the vaccination process amidst a shortage of vaccine supply, we cannot deny the huge role played by our frontliners and volunteers, especially in rural areas.

       "We also cannot forget all the MPs and the rakyat who helped the state Health Departments administer the vaccines to ensure as many rakyat received (the vaccine) at the same time," said Azalina.

       She added that parliamentarians should play their role not only in the Dewan Rakyat and by signing the Memorandum of Understanding with the government, but must go down to the ground at all levels.

       She also felt the government had not given MPs enough data on the issue of Covid-19 and vaccines.

       "I would like to propose to the government to release enough data to all MPs. We cannot classify all the data," she said.

       Azalina added that the data can help the government and MPs draft strategic plans that are more accurate and in line with each locality.