KUALA LUMPUR: The government must provide clear, precise and consistent directives on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) to prevent widespread confusion and speculations among the public.
Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the imposition, relaxation, and re-imposition of SOPs according to the different sectors, geographical boundaries, activities and needs have caused a certain degree of confusion among the public, largely due to inconsistencies.
"For instance, under the latest round of CMCO, it is illegal for more than two family members to travel together to buy groceries but it is Ok for a greater number of people, unrelated to each other, to be at a gym.
"The rakyat are confused, to say the least, by the seeming contradictions, leading to much social media speculation as to the reasons why.
"SOPs must be clear and precise to avoid another kind of CMCO," he said in a statement today.
Lee also questioned the rationale behind the government's decision to allow a certain segment of the population to work from the offices while others have to work from home.
"Where is the rationality of this SOP? Either everybody stays at home, or everybody goes back to work. The virus is no respecter of persons or locations or time of day."
He said of paramount urgency now was to keep the wheels of the economy running, therefore there should not be any more restrictions put in the way of those involved in economic activity.
Instead, he said, these people should be assisted.
Lee also said as the public were already aware of the need for safety and healthy habits, those who resist should be dealt with under the full force of the law.
He noted that the people were not against restrictive SOPs, but they would like more consistency and rationality in the formulation, implementation and duration of the procedures.
The public, he said, would also like clarity in terms of eligibility of relief measures including the extent and the timing.
"There is no gainsaying that Malaysia, along with the rest of the world is facing a situation like never before. Covid-19 has disrupted the lives of Malaysians as we have known in living memory.
"Consequently, some civil liberties have been suspended as a result of the imposition of the restrictive SOPs designed to check the spread of the dreaded virus.
"Yes, tough situations call for tough measures. SOPs are necessary evils that will be supported by the rakyat so long as they are effective in flattening the curve.
"Clarity and consistency will go a long way to assuage the temporary suspension of civil liberties for the common good. This will make the current SOPs and subsequent ones more acceptable and palatable."
He said being clear about new directives will help Malaysia in sustaining its success in its war against Covid-19, which was shown to have been successful in the initial phases of movement restrictions earlier this year.
He said Malaysians had so far observed the SOPs during the Movement Control Order (MCO), Enhanced MCO (EMCO), Recovery MCO (RMCO) and the CMCO.
Lee said the government should be thanked for closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation nationwide and for the speed with which these orders have been systematically imposed, relaxed, and re-imposed.
"The fact that different segments of the population have been adversely affected at different times by the four phases of MCO only serves to highlight the need for the introduction of measures to face the residual challenges from time to time.
"While we do so, we have to be mindful of the prolonged sacrifices being made, without exception, by the frontliners, some of whom are constantly battling stress and fatigue to keep us safe.
"It is (also) heartening that more leaders are calling for a moratorium on political manoeuvring at this crucial time. Their calls for a 'political ceasefire' must translate into a clarion call to politicians to 'cease and desist' the temptation to test the waters at this time of national crisis.
"Those who don't pay heed may face the wrath of the rakyat, and those who do will receive the rewards, come the next general election," he added.