JOHOR BARU: Malaysians from all walks of life are yearning for a better 2022 as many hope that the Covid-19 pandemic would soon see its end.
They look forward to welcoming the dawn of the new year with peace, happiness, prosperity and hope for better days ahead.
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Skudai principal Sharifah Junaidah Syed A. Rahman said most had a difficult year with illness, loss, uncertain employment, and isolation due to Covid-19.
"Malaysia's school closures, which were put in place as part of the Movement Control Order (MCO) to mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic, disrupted the education of students," she said.
"The coming year looks better for the school calendar as classes are now conducted face to face and no longer online-based learning.
"As school reopens on Jan 9, it's my hope that this pandemic will be completely washed off and students and teachers can continue with classroom teaching without any hindrance," she said.
Sharifah Junaidah also hoped that there will be no deferment on the 2021 SPM and STPM examinations which will be held in March next year.
SMK I.J. Convent student, Phan Zhi Xuan, 14, hopes for a better year ahead.
"I hope that the coming year will have fewer interruptions to our studies and that we can be allowed to have extra-curricular activities in school," she said.
She said the new year is like a fresh clean start, full of possibilities.
"The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book and we should not flip back our pages," she said.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Johor Baru general manager Melanie Rahayu hopes that those who have lost their jobs in 2021 and are seeking new opportunities will be lucky and that they see a year with a better prospect.
She hopes that the coming year will bring love, joy and greater changes to society.
"It is hoped that businesses will be better in the coming year and people will be able to travel to meet their family members and loved ones," she said.
Farrah Faridah Baptist, chairperson of Ihsan Johor Relief said everyone must all join hands to defeat Covid-19 and only then can everyone have a better year ahead.
The volunteer and humanitarian mission non-governmental organisation head in Johor said if everyone is looking for a happier tomorrow then this pandemic must be erased from the dictionary.
"All Malaysians are looking forward to a blessed and happy new year showered with peace and joy," she said.
Farrah said last year was an unforgettable year and was a challenging one but hoped that in 2022 people will be financially well, mentally and physically fine to welcome the bright new dawn.
She called on Malaysians to volunteer their time to help improve the community which is a great way to give back in 2022.
"You can never go wrong with charity work. There are still ways you can lend a helping hand during Covid-19," she added.
Edey Suresh, Johor State Director UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB) said his vision for 2022 is to make Johor an exemplary state when it comes to championing sustainability and making environmental, social and governance (ESG) a focal point in everything that the public, private and community sector does.
"It is unequivocal that climate change is anthropogenic or caused by humans, and the recent floods that have devastated our country with 48 deaths and 22,000 people displaced to evacuation centres further emphasise the urgency to act," he said.
He stressed the time has come for all to be proactive and not reactive to the issues at hand and impose an approach of including sustainability in everything – from planning to execution.
"Sustainability is no longer a trend or a catchphrase but an imperative that requires holistic and collective action."