3 MAY 2020 | 12.00 PM MYT
From ordinary folk to consumer groups, Malaysians have diverging views about the conditional movement control order (MCO) that starts tomorrow.
Fomca chief executive officer Datuk Dr Paul Selva Raj (pic) said it was time to revive the economy and reopen sectors while keeping Covid-19 at bay.
“The earlier the government can get people back to work to revive the economy, the more helpful it will be, ” he said.
“Many people are affected in terms of job and income losses and facing all sorts of uncertainties about the future.”
Thus, he said reviving the economy was important.
“We have a positive view of the conditional MCO, ” he said in reference to the government’s announcement on Friday that selected economic and social activities would be allowed to resume on May 4.
However, he said it was important for the public to take responsibility for their own health.
“We want the economy to be revived but we also don’t want another round of infections, so we advise consumers to be responsible, ” he said.
He said all sectors should comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) outlined by the Health Ministry, while the government should ensure strict compliance.
The Malaysian Consumers Movement was also receptive of the conditional MCO.
It, however, urged the public to ensure the SOP, including wearing face masks, using hand sanitisers and practising social distancing, was followed.
“We should be united in fighting Covid-19 and reviving the national economy, ” it said.
Consumers’ Association of Penang president Mohideen Abdul Kader said more thought should be given before the lifting of restrictions and that the country should act on the advice of Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah who had been talking about a soft landing approach in lifting the MCO.
He said the conditional MCO seemed abrupt.
“We have to build up our capacity first to deal with the situation, like South Korea had done in identifying virus carriers and isolating them, ” he said.
“We should also do more testing.”
He questioned if the public would really comply with social distancing measures, especially in restaurants, which have been allowed to reopen to diners from tomorrow.
Mohideen urged Malaysians to be cautious and to avoid crowded places.
“Young people may go out thinking nothing will happen to them but they must think how this will affect the older people in direct contact with them, ” he said.
On Twitter, Malaysians also gave their views to Dr Noor Hisham and the ministry about the conditional MCO.
A tweet to @KKMPutrajaya stated: “I am not that agreeable to easing up on the MCO but I am sure that the government will do its best for the country. Let’s hope the rakyat will be disciplined.”
@14M_Firdaus said: “We are worried about the situation now. Please extend the MCO till after Raya if the number of infections go up.”
However, others begged to differ.
“Nobody wants the MCO to ease up but we have to be confident that we can win this war. How long more do we want to stay at home?” said one netizen.
A group calling itself Rakyat Malaysia Prihatin (Concerned Malaysian Citizens) put up a petition on Change.org, calling on the government not to allow businesses and other activities to restart on May 4.
The petition has collected about 300,000 signatures within 17 hours after it was put up.
Dato Dr Paul Selva Raj
Fomca Chief Executive Officer
-- TheStar