KUALA LUMPUR: The Melaka election, should it be held, will be a test case to determine people's preparedness to live with Covid-19, a health expert said.
Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said while he was not in favour of the state election, the event would be able to show whether people were ready for the endemic phase.
"The state election will be a major on-the-field laboratory and benchmark to evaluate people's readiness to live with Covid-19. This is important as we are moving towards the endemic phase," he said.
"The priority, there should be sufficient preparation in the weeks or months before the election."
He said this included formulating and implementing stricter measures and standard operating procedures, as well as accelerating the vaccination drive with hopes that it could control the spread of the virus.
"The movements of the election machinery of political parties contesting the state polls, especially those from outside Melaka, must be controlled. Only those fully vaccinated are allowed to enter the state.
"The Melaka election will be one big field laboratory. If the polls conclude without a surge in cases, it can be an indicator of people's readiness to live with Covid-19.
"The outcome of the polls will be real, reflecting the actual situation on the ground. If possible, a state election should not be held, but the state assembly has been dissolved and an election has to be held. Let us pray that all will be safe."
Other health experts, however, were not in favour of Melaka going to the polls, despite the country showing a declining trend in Covid-19 cases. They say this is not the right time for elections as virus transmissions are still occurring.
Universiti Putra Malaysia's epidemiologist and biostatistician Associate Professor Dr Malina Osman said the crises that affected the country's healthcare system since early this year was not yet over.
"Our active cases are still above 100,000, while the R-naught is still above 0.5. In addition, threats from the Delta variants and other VOCs (variants of concern) are still present," she said.
According to the Health Ministry's CovidNow portal, there are 135,945 active cases in the country up to 11.59pm on Tuesday.
Data from the portal also said Melaka was among the 10 states with a bed utilisation rate of 70 per cent and above, at 77.8 per cent, with 202 cases being treated at healthcare facilities in the state.
Dr Malina said the "revival" or restoring people's lives and livelihoods should be prioritised, instead of a change in leadership.
Former Malaysian Medical Association president Professor Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan, meanwhile, said the state election, if held, was the result of people putting their selfish interests before the nation's.
He said it was irresponsible for elected officials to trigger an election when the health of the nation was at stake.
"Knowing full well the consequences, going ahead with an election is highly irresponsible. Politicians should lead by example. This is a bad example for Malaysians to follow," he said.
"We have been drumming into everyone to leave home only if urgent or necessary. Is this election necessary?"
He added that even with restrictions, the spread of the virus could not be curtailed if the election was held.
"There will be crowds thronging ceramah, rallies, campaigns and house-to-house visits."
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's concern that a possible hike in cases may happen should a state election be held was justified.
"The Sabah election saw a sudden surge in cases in the state and Sarawak. There was also an increase in cases in Peninsular Malaysia, mainly due to those returning from Sabah after campaigning in the state.
"It was the first precipitous surge in cases. This was in spite of several warnings from many sources, including the Health Ministry, not to hold the election."