Perspective: Malaysians need to prepare and adjust to new normal – The Edge Markets MY

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): The Movement Control Order (MCO) not only restricted peoples movements and activities, it has also affected businesses and industries which means lost of wages, furloughs and layoffs.

Like the rest of the world, Malaysia too is seeking to reopen the country and allow some industries to restart, in order to save its economy. However, that comes with caveats as people cannot afford to return to the old way of doing things.

Datuk Dr Christopher Lee, member of the Selangor Task Force for COVID-19 and former head of infectious disease unit at Sungai Buloh Hospital told Bernama that only way for any country to reopen fully is if there is a vaccine or an effective treatment.

Malaysia, like any other nations across the world, is trapped in a cycle of restrictions and reopening will depend on the rate of infection for at least the next few months.

Lets say, suddenly next week, we have another Singapore incident - boom! - then forget about a few months, it will be longer than that, said Dr Lee referring at the sudden exponential number of infection in the island republic recorded last week.

Currently, Malaysias rate of infection hovers around seven per cent, down from its peak at nine per cent. Most of the red zones are in the Klang Valley and Selangor, followed by Johor. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a rate of infection of under 10%, before reopening of an area or country.

But even as Malaysia eases restrictions in phases, Dr Lee said everyone should plan to adopt the new normal, balancing the need to restart the economy against the health and safety of the people.

There must be a system, there must be a serious intent to open the country and clearly the desire is there but also the desire to make it safe every single step of the way, he said.

This means Malaysia and its people have to evolve and adopt COVID-19 preventive measures in their daily lives should the MCO be lifted. No MCO does not mean social distancing is a thing of the past.

Dr Lee said Malaysian employers and agencies need to assist the Ministry of Health in preventing the third wave of infections. They should do so by putting in a framework to prevent infection, monitor health and deal with positive cases among workers.

As for members of the public, they need to make adjustments, such as wearing masks in public places, and go about our lives differently, be it how they pray, play or socialise.

Religious services and ceremonies, which have been one of the primary drivers of the second wave of Covid-19 cases and responsible for at least four clusters in Malaysia, have to undergo their own evolution.

To prevent a recurrence Dr Lee suggested religious worships should be carried out differently, which include, allowing at least one metre physical spacing between patrons in religious services and congregations and shunning communal items, such as public prayer mats.

Eating out, one of Malaysians favorite past-times, will also have to see a change. Similar change need to be adopted in other recreational activities, such as travel, watching movies, playing and watching sports. Anything that involves crowds will have to change or risk going the way of the dodo.

Dr Lee acknowledged some of these industries would find it hard to adapt to a world ruled by COVID-19, such as the tourism industry, and that those that are able to change, will not offer the same experience as before.

Time for sacrifices is not over. We have a big responsibility, some people are suffering, he said adding as for the inconveniences, we have to suck it up, deal with it.

For example, Im a football fan. I miss watching football in premier league for months now. But will it ever be the same again? I dont know. Will we see 60,000 people crowded inside the stadium again? I dont know. I hope there will be, he added wistfully.

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Perspective: Malaysians need to prepare and adjust to new normal - The Edge Markets MY

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