UNDENIABLY, Covid-19 is an act of Mother Nature reminding us about the true nature of humanity and the Earth.

The movement-control order gives us a lot of time to reflect on our civilisation. The layman’s definition of “socialist” is one who looks after another.

The public healthcare system has long been the poster boy of government inefficiency by pro-privatisation lobbyists. However, thousands of activists have fought to improve this system, as it symbolises a caring society. Today, nations with a private healthcare system are failing miserably, while those with public healthcare make progress in the fight against Covid-19.

The past decade has seen a rise in right-wing populism, like Donald Trump’s “America First”. People have become more self-centric, racist and xenophobic.

Covid-19 united people against this rhetoric, with China sending aid to Europe and Cuba sending doctors to the First World. Even Malaysia sent food to the United Arab Emirates, and gloves worldwide. And, Malaysians support giving medical access to undocumented migrant workers.

The world is also witnessing the greatest decline in emissions and pollutants since the 2008 “great recession”. Hence, it is a reminder that the Earth can still recover if we stop pollution now. The plummet in oil prices will send billions of dollars in fossil fuel assets into bankruptcy, permanently damaging the industry.

We Malaysians have begun to appreciate our everyday unsung heroes in our hospitals. There are also heroes in our neighbourhoods, those who organise among themselves to collect food to be donated to the vulnerable.

Those who have been stereotyped as mat rempit are the ones delivering our food and other provisions. Consumer affairs personnel leave their families for days as they travel across the country to ensure no hoarding of essential goods and price hikes.

My deepest condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones to Covid-19. We are here for you. No matter how much we preach that it’s every man for himself, deep down, we are all human.

At the end of the day, all humans are just socialists looking after one another. – March 28, 2020.

* Sharan Raj is Malacca Parti Sosialis Malaysia chairman and a central committee member.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.