Opposition politician alleges cover-up in timing of Zika announcement

Secretary-General of the People’s Power Party, Mr Goh Meng Seng, said in his Facebook that the 41 cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus is “apparently a cover-up”. He alleged that it is no coincidence that the Singapore Government declared its first locally contracted case soon after Hong Kong declared its first Zika case on 25 Aug. The woman was eventually tested negative for the virus and was discharged from the hospital the day after.

Mr Goh contested against the Health Minister and his team in Chua Chu Kang constituency in the last General Election. He challenged the Minister, Mr Gan Kim Yong, to a debate on healthcare policies which Mr Gan declined.

In saying that he was surprised by how fast the 1 Zika case became 41 cases overnight, Mr Goh suggested that the Singapore Government covered up the outbreak because it did not want to showcase Singapore as a worse-off place than Hong Kong, which it considers its competitor. He said that important information of public interests are only secondary to this Government.

In fronting the media this afternoon to announce the 40 more Zika cases discovered since yesterday, Mr Gan rubbished any talk of cover-up.

—
Read also: https://theindependent.sg.sg/40-more-zika-cases-confirmed-in-the-aljunied-crescent-sims-drive-area.