PETALING JAYA, Jan 27 (Sin Chew Daily) – Former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad advised his successor Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba to courageously lead the health ministry in the fight against the coronavirus instead of pushing all his responsibilities to health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Failing that, he said the minister should resign gracefully.

During an interview with Sin Chew Daily, Dzulkefly said the incumbent minister and his deputies are now "missing in action".

"Other than ministers and deputy ministers, the government is also made up of administrative officers and technocrats. We need to have team cooperation but in the end it will be the minister who should lead and be held accountable.

"People say their salaries are paid to them for nothing, because they don't see their leadership or accountability.

"After I left the health ministry, the DG was seen as the leader, especially in daily media briefings.

"People say now there are three of them: the minister and two deputies, but where are they? Why so quiet?"

"The pandemic is getting worse. They need to stand up and bear the responsibility, not throwing everything to the DG."

He advised Adham to perform and not to be fearful of criticisms.

"You must be the one people can see. You must not be afraid of comments."

Dzulkefly admitted to have received public calls for him to come back and lead the health ministry.

"They say we don't care whether you are from PH. We don't care. We only want someone who can work and deliver us out of this pandemic.

"People now don't care whether you are from PN, BN, MN or PH, or Warisan or Pejuang. They only want the politicians to their jobs properly so that we can be delivered out of the health, economic and political crisis."

Dzulkefly recalled when he was approached by the agent of prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin proposing that he helm the ministry for a second time.

"You tell me how to be the health minister again? You people have overthrown us. How do you want me to recognize your legitimacy?"