By Irwan Shafrizan Ismail
SHAH ALAM, May 2 — The Federal government’s move to impose the conditional movement control order (CMOC) beginning Monday, which has given a lot of leeway in economic and social activities, is seen as a premature decision, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Selangor Task Force for Covid-19 (STFC) head said that the move lacks the soft landing approach as the public was not given ample time to think through and understand the planned exit strategy by the central administration.
Although he said the CMOC is comprehensive, Dr Dzulkefly commented that it is only on paper.
“The campaign on the new normal culture requires a bit more time for it to be wholly indoctrinated.
“We should fully make use of the time frame before May 12 (the end of the fourth phase of the MCO). However, the decision to impose ‘business as usual’ on May 4 is too sudden, that is what many are concerned of,” he said on a Facebook statement last night.
Dr Dzulkefly said it is evident that it was not easy for a country to decide on imposing a lockdown or movement restrictions, like the MCO in Malaysia, to contain the spread of the Covid-19 infection.
“What the public is concerned about is the exit strategy plan to lift the MCO.
“Japan (Hokkaido), Canada, and Singapore are some of the current examples where we see another wave of infections. There are several articles by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Oxford on how to plan the exit strategy,” he said.
Dr Dzulkefly said the people have been anticipating the announcement for the fourth phase of the MCO to end on May 12 in hopes that there would be a balance in safeguarding the health and livelihood of the nation.
“No one wants to be confined over a long period of time while the Health Ministry and frontliners work hard in flattening the curve.
“The economic impact, employment losses, losses incurred by companies, and social impact, including domestic violence as well as mental health conditions, have been reported globally, and Malaysia is not left out,” he said.
However, Dr Dzulkefly had reminded the people to not take things for granted as sporadic cases are still being detected within the communities, Selangor included.
He had told the people to continue keeping the social distance and practise good hygiene as well as wearing the face masks.
“The people and the employers have to immediately adopt the new normal culture effectively and consistently.
“The state governments with the cooperation of the State Health Department or District Health Offices must form a quick response team to be able to do mass community testing, isolation and treatment,” he said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in his Labour Day address, had announced the permission given to large sections of the economic and business sector to operate as well allowing various activities, subject to tight standard operating procedures (SOP)
This includes reopening restaurants and allowing customers to dine in as well as outdoor non-contact sports activities, such as jogging, cycling, and golf.
