YOURSAY | ‘Look at how Singapore shares detailed data with the public.’

Health DG: Raw Covid-19 data not shared with S’gor to avoid conflicting interpretations

ManOnTheStreet: Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says: "If we have not analysed the data and then they make a conclusion, I won’t know what conclusion they make. Is it right for you to make a conclusion when I have not even seen the data yet?"

This is possibly one of the worst answers I have heard from a scientific point of view. I highly commend the journalist who asked this question, my deepest respect to you. But the answer is shameful from whatever perspective you look at it.

Anyone who has done any form of scientific study with data knows that the raw data must be open to scrutiny for it to make any analysis valid. If you hide the raw data from appraisals, you will lose credibility.

What the DG appears to be saying to other scientists (and I am certain the Selangor Task Force for Covid-19, STFC, has its own scientists) is that he holds the exclusive rights to the raw data, the way it is analysed and all conclusions must be "approved" by him, and only him alone.

This would be fine if you are developing a patent to market a drug, but in a scenario where scientists internationally are struggling to understand the pandemic, withholding critical raw data from our own scientists is arrogant at best and downright irresponsible at worst.

We are in a crisis, and the more the scientists who analyse the data, the better. In science, there is never a situation where one person knows it all. In a crisis like ours, data should be shared with all scientists as it is through challenge and discussion that solutions are found.

Noor Hisham’s excuse that the data may be "incorrectly" concluded is not acceptable. In science, if you have the evidence, you rebut false conclusions with data, facts and evidence instead of making conclusions exclusive to only one individual.

Coward: Raw data is not the problem, but the interpretation of the data is. So, let's tackle the problem instead of withholding the data. The data have a lot more use beyond what is envisaged by the Health Ministry (MOH).

As for the public, we will learn to cope with differing opinions. It's a necessary education step in this world of data. Noor Hisham is not helping to prepare us for this age; he is holding us back.

Differences in opinions are normal. It encourages healthy debate and uncovers hidden issues and solutions. Assuming it spills into the public, it is still good. The public will learn how to handle information correctly.

As long as MOH is doing its job right - that is impartially, factually and based on science, and professionally - it should not fear differing opinions. The public will still trust the ministry.

This step of withholding data so that only MOH is allowed to interpret it is one gigantic step backwards. It can only hurt MOH because it reinforces the idea that MOH is hiding information.

Our DG had been very successful in dispelling this, but this move to restrict data is going to undo that completely. His hard-earned reputation will vanish if he is seen to stifle differing opinions.

Vijay47: I am struggling and bending backwards to give you the benefit of the doubt, Noor Hisham. Nevertheless, there are certain issues that need clarification.

I will start with the simplest. Is this refusal to share “raw data” applicable to only Selangor or is such information withheld from other states also?

In this respect, there is much apprehension, especially since the “opposition states” have been excluded from discussions to chart appropriate even nationwide courses of action. This regrettably has occurred at least twice.

Coming to the matter of analysis and interpretation, how divergent would either of these be from the conclusions arrived at by the federal authorities? Won’t “two plus three” always be five? Yet I will concede that the variances are complex and could be more than merely reaching five.

Pursuing these differences between state and federal, what is there to say that the federal view is the correct position and needs to be adopted?

I must add here that I have always been your ardent admirer and supporter. But I must confess that of late, the fervour has been fading.

Ferdtan: Yes, was there a problem previously concerning the misinterpretation of data? If there was, then it could be justifiable. Obviously, there was none since Noor Hisham did not give any example.

Why can't MOH work with the opposition states in good faith for the good of Malaysians? Let's remind politicians - the Covid virus does not discriminate whether the victim is an Umno or opposition supporter.

We know Noor Hisham has constraints as he has to answer to his boss in Putrajaya, but we expect more from him. The Sabah Covid fiasco, which is causing so much despair for the whole country, is one example of what could be done to prevent the spread.

As pointed out by Vijay47, "the fervour of MOH leadership has been fading." I agree.

Johar: DG, can you please share some examples of misinterpreted raw data that you have come across?

With the endless free time due to unemployment, interpreting raw data should be everyone’s favourite pastime during the lockdown. Anyone can misinterpret data, even you.

The way the rakyat is seeing it, keeping raw data to be analysed before giving it to the state is a sure way of manipulation for various reasons.

Anonymous_15897060865429524: Noor Hisham, if more data and transparency can save lives, who cares who analyses the data or announces the statistics?

We are talking about saving lives here. Is it really that important to you that you be the only one to analyse the data and announce the results?

I’m sorry, but this just seems like you are playing partisan politics and flexing your own petty ego instead of collaborating to save lives.

Are you worried that the Selangor state representatives will steal your thunder? Or that you won’t be seen as the "leader" in this fight?

If they can use the data to increase testing, how is that a bad thing? If the data can help with targeted strategies, how can that be harmful?

Anonymous_15897060865429524: Any scientist knows the importance of peer review to get the best results. That’s how you get the best outcome. By sharing the data with other scientists so that they can analyse and verify your conclusions and maybe even enhance your analysis.

DG, it's abundantly clear now that you are just another bureaucrat.

BlueKijang4184: What lame excuse. You don’t even share sufficient analysed data. Look at how Singapore shares detailed data with the public. The STFC may comprise people brainier than you or the National Security Council and more well-versed than you in epidemiology.

What do you mean they will wrongly interpret data? They could be even more strategic than you in determining which area in Selangor should be under the conditional movement control order.

I think it is more of a political reason for the MOH to not share information with Selangor. The federal government is afraid that Selangor might outshine them in combating the disease.

Ego should be put aside for the sake of Selangorians’ safety. Selangor has resources. You should let them help you to handle the pandemic and take some burden off you so that you can channel more attention towards Sabah.

Anonymous_15897060865429524: The STFC consists of seven doctors, including Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Dr Christopher Lee, Dr Yap Wei Aun, and Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman. These are experts in their respective fields, including virology and infectious diseases.

Dear DG, for you to say that they would wrongly interpret the data if you gave the data to them is not only insulting to them, but it reveals how egoistic, condescending, and politically partisan you are.

Asitis: Information sharing is two ways. If you have no time to analyse the data at the federal level, the state can analyse it and share the analysis with you at the federal level.

The federal and state level can work together to combat this pandemic. This is not the time to say you do yours, I do mine. How are we going to manage this pandemic with an attitude like this?

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