FIRSTLY, let me express our deepest gratitude to our director-general of health for the exemplary and decisive manner in which he and his team has managed the Covid-19 crisis.  Them and to the untiring efforts of all frontliners, this country owes a debt of gratitude.

What is critical now, is the post-movement-control order (MCO) period. As a starting point, the government must provide succinct and clear cut policies without any form of second guessing.

What comes to mind, is self-regulation with a sense of urgency and to be really serious about its implementation. And decisive decision making and to be firm about it. 

Let us start with who should be coming to work.  Employers should be educated on a do-it-yourself route mapping that enables full disclosure. Where have you gone, who visited you, any relatives infected? If you live in designated red zones, it must be mandatory that you go for a Covid-19 test and is given the all-clear.

This can only be possible, if adequate and affordable testing is available and the government provides for mass on-site collection of samples and testing.  Alternatively, employers must insist their workers go for testing and get a clean bill of health. The government must facilitate.  

What is the standard operating procedure (SOP) in dealing with those infected by Covid-19 and cured? What risk factor do they pose? How should they be handled? Should they be monitored? 

What is the SOP while at work? Common sense will dictate, that sit-down meetings will still pose a risk, so online would be more appropriate. Make it compulsory for employees to wear masks and gloves. Provide advice on personal movements during lunch and after work.  For instance, where to eat or not to eat, minimise social gatherings in crowded venues. Meet people whose movement history is known. How and when to sanitise your workplace. 

Another area of concern is public transportation.  Jam-packed LRTs is a catastrophe waiting to happen.  What is the advice and SOP for this?

Foreign, documented and undocumented workers are another major issue.  Register and provide all of them with necessary identifications, which will allow police to easily track and trace them.  If they live within red zones, they need to be adequately educated and monitored, with employers held accountable. From safe accommodation to daily food, these need to be addressed. 

A definitive communication game plan needs to be developed.  It is rather appalling that no form of awareness campaign was initiated during this crisis. Post-MCO, government should embark on a campaign highlighting key messages.  We have a strong creative knowledge base.  Instead of a tender, engage with stakeholders via professional organisations, like the Malaysian advertising agencies to media and digital associations and empower their executive members to fast-track the process. From creative concepts to digital and mainstream media campaigns. 

At the end of the day, economic impact takes precedence.  What is the point of being alive, if you are going to starve to death? Companies and business must be allowed to start operations. 

This is where the government can lend a helping hand, especially those in the tourism industry and high-value businesses. 

Let us take the hotel industry. Penang and Langkawi are Covid-19 free to a certain extent. Promote local tourism first. The government can give a red packet of RM100, or tiered depending on star rating for every room night.  A budget of RM20-40 million for two months can be a lifeline to them.  This is based on 10,000 room nights for 20 days of full occupancy.  In reality, it will be less. Hotels give guests the appropriate red packets and then claim back from the government.  Other states can follow suit.

Airlines is another critical industry. They can’t be allowed to shut down. Can Petronas, through the government, provide for subsidised aviation fuel and provide for living expenses for those laid off?

Those in the middle- to higher-income group, the status quo remains the same.  Job security and income are key issues.  Give tax-free status for three months and let employers defer Employees Provident Fund contribution for the same period. Higher disposable incomes can spur domestic spending.

The car industry will also need a huge reboot.  The government easily collects more that RM10 billion from car duties. It is time to give back. Fast-track approval processes and minimise red tape.  Allow for a one-time discount for car duties but for one or two selected models of the choice of the car manufacturer.

At the end of the day, we need our lives back. A calculated risk is worth taking. – April 30, 2020.

* B.J. Fernandez reads The Malaysian Insight.