KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 —The federal government has picked DAP lawmaker Steven Sim to coordinate all Covid-19 matters in Penang.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the appointment of the Bukit Mertajam MP was made in the spirit of bipartisanship, and that Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow agreed with him.

"We don’t have a problem with the state government here. I always communicate with the chief minister via WhatsApp,” he said in a joint press conference with Chow that was broadcast live from George Town.

"But I have discussed with Lim Guan Eng, that we may need a coordinator at the level of federal MP that will always receive a follow-up from me,” he said, referring to the DAP secretary-general.

Khairy said this would add onto the relationships he currently has with Chow and state health exco Norlela Ariffin, allowing him to quickly receive queries from Penang state assemblymen and other public representatives.

Government bipartisanship has been one of the key values touted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob since being sworn in last month, adopted from several decrees from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong calling on politicians to work together and overcome the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis.

However, Lim has also recently been critical of the Penang state government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, including its choice to not purchase its own Covid-19 vaccines.