LETTERS: AS a professional in crisis communications management, I read with deep concern the political development in our country. I believe any attempt to destabilise the government will have dire consequences, more so when we are not out of the Covid-19
pandemic.
As I see it, we have just entered the recovery phase. Let's look at some positive actions and results the country and us, the citizens, have accomplished thus far to lessen the impact from Covid-19 on our lives and livelihood.
Firstly, the decision by India to resume buying Malaysia's palm oil, signalling better ties. This has regained the livelihood of approximately 112,000 oil palm Felda settlers.
Secondly, Bursa Malaysia KLCI is on a rally. Moving up from 1382.310 points since the Conditional Movement Control Order started on May 9 and 1451.730 points till May 27.
Thirdly, Bank Negara Malaysia announced lower base lending rates to spur spending and kick-start our economy. For the economy to move, the government and the people need to spend to ensure enough liquidity in the marketplace.
Fourthly, Malaysia is the world's largest source of medical gloves, with a market share of about 65 per cent. In 2019, Malaysia exported about 182 billion glove pieces, accounting for US$4.31 billion in revenue. The figure could go as high as 240 billion pieces this year. This is an income for the country to
partially substitute the losses in industries, such as travel, tourism, air transportation, and oil and gas.
Fifth, hotels turned into quarantine centres, giving the industry some lifeline as tourism was halted. From the health erspective, Malaysia's Covid-19 recovery rate is close to 80 per cent, one of the highest in the world. Malaysia's recovery rate is also much higher than the global average of 41 per cent.
Up to May 15, Malaysia has tested about 425,000 individuals, among the highest number of Covid-19 screenings in Asean. Of the total, 6,855 tested positive for the virus, a positive rate of 1.62 per cent.
Covid-19-related death cases on May 27 was 115 among 7,619 positive cases, equivalent to 1.5 per cent, lower than the World Health Organisation's estimated rate of 3.4 per cent. Other countries are reporting averages of between 4.6 and 5.6 per cent.
Malaysia has ramped up its testing capacity and capabilities.
Around 45 labs are equipped for Covid-19 tests, which translates to a daily testing capacity of 26,673.
The exhibition halls of the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang have been turned into a gigantic temporary make-shift hospital for Covid-19 patients for quarantine and treatment of low-risk patients. The make-shift hospital can house up to 604 patients.
Lastly, the use of "Test, Test, Test" as a slogan. The pandemic has brought Malaysians closer together — from the government and frontliners to activists and the public — in the war against
Covid-19.No doubt there are impending bankruptcies, foreclosures, unemployment and many more challenges that the country will have to deal with in the next 12 to 18 months.
But any form of recovery (be it social, health or economic) will take some time while we need to constantly be on guard to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The need to strike a balance between safeguarding lives versus safeguarding livelihood is not an easy task. This is what we need to focus on.
Not politics. Malaysians must come together as one nation — more so members of parliament from both side of the political divide — to see this through.
IVLYNN YAP
Citrine One, Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times