My personal view on this matter is, there are many jobs/businesses/folks that will "die" before this Covid-jerked lockdowns end - if there's a prolonged shutdown.
Where the businesses are "non essential" (and we have to strictly decide based on proper analysis), then perhaps the 2 weeks/or more shutdown is ok. But the problem is, this regime is unable to do this without bias (I have 5 mechanic friends; 1 Malay, 1 Chinese, 3 Indians....the Malay got his "buka" permit on the 2nd day of the FMCO, the Chinese after 10 days but none of the 3 Indians got their's till today....one is paying a daily bribe of RM150 to local enforcers to do work quietly with shutters down). We can say whatever about the application (wrong form/description etc) but this story is consistent across other SMEs too. Mind boggling that some 965,000 businesses are deemed "essential" including money-changers and high-end retailers.
So instead of this haphazard/"discretionary" issuance of permits (and as we all know, corruption is rife here), we probably need honest enforcement (kinda impossible when like it or not, the group most prone to "dedak" is the enforcer) of hygiene/distancing measures. Singapore, Australia and NZ have managed this quite well.
Yes, non essential "crowd attracting" services like prayer houses, pubs, casinos etc can be shut for a while but if they too are willing to implement measures, why not controlled operations? I think most of these places have a higher level of diligence than the "makcik/pakcik gerais" and "pasar malams". I have personally witnessed these gerais openly breaking the law...and u know what, in Hartamas and PJ Old Town, I saw cops eating at these warongs against the law. That's why in Malaysia, we are having a tough time quelling the spread because the lawmakers (including Ministers... like the 800 pax Raya party) are the ones breaking the laws they make for the others. Very hypocritical, while the enforcers look the other way when such transgressions are captured and reported. NFA is almost certain.....the Orwellian truism.
I'm very concerned that the half-baked economic measures are going to wipe out 30% (or more) of businesses (and their dependents) in the country. Like I said, it's a "die-die" for many - they will be "dead" before the Covid gets them. I feel very sad for those in this category, mostly the B40 group. I am personally aware of the catastrophic circumstances because some of the associations I belong to, are busy with many types of assistance for this category. Almost every day, I will get calls from desperate people for help. One single mother called me 3 times in 15mins (while the Grab rider was delivering her the food/groceries that WL had packed - because the temple can only distribute some food on Sunday morning earliest) asking when the rations will reach her as her kids were starving as at lunch on Saturday. Really broke my heart. She then passed our interim gesture to her similarly stricken friends and they started calling me as well. Although I was upset she did that, I can understand the situation...many people have no where else to turn to, even for a simple meal.
And one minister with his head in the skies says we will achieve a 4.5% GROWTH this year, while a few others wearing $200,000 watches post pics of them eating "Maggi mee" so as to show empathy with the Rakyat. And one goon, at first said he was going on a holiday abroad, and then when faced with brickbats, changed tune to say he was going just to enrol his son in an overseas school. Please lah, the son is 5 years old. Enough BULLSHIT - the Rakyat is FED UP of the LIES and propaganda.
But I don't at all feel sorry for the civil (what a misnomer) servants and Ministers...mostly "gaji buta" before and now, even more so. But when the "president's" survival rests on bought loyalties, what else can we expect.
Looks like even the "Gods" are not able to save Malaysia ?
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