A BIG part of the “unpredictability” felt throughout the different phases of the movement-control order stems from changing rules, shifting goalposts and varying degrees of implementation of what should be, especially by now, standardised measures.

With a Covid-19 vaccine unlikely to be available until next year at the soonest, firmer guidelines will help us navigate these troubled times a little more easily. This will allow people to better plan their travel and spending, in turn, letting businesses more effectively strategise their opening hours and manpower.

Both individuals and businesses are growing apathetic, possibly due to lethargy from keeping up with the daily updates on coronavirus-related matters, such as the policy on wearing masks outdoors or how many people are allowed in one car, and the number of new infections.

It would be good to bring back the colour-coded system, but improved to reflect the virus situation more accurately in specific areas. This can be done through push notifications on contact-tracing apps, where alerts are sent out if a fresh case is detected or to provide the latest information on existing clusters. Instead of competing, these apps can complement one another.

In the pandemic’s early days, it was understandable that each state government or local council wanted to develop their own way of protecting residents, but it’s now time for apps to be compatible or simply unified. The effort should be geared towards empowerment – if local authorities have the necessary data, it will allow them to spring into action before the federal government moves in, saving time and potentially lives. Google Forms and other online documents, as well as organisations’ internal apps, should be used only in high-risk areas that require rapid response and isolation, such as airports and hospitals, instead of by the general public.

Apps’ alerts can serve as a barometer of prevention levels. In places with active cases, for example, masks should be made mandatory everywhere outside the home and social distancing strictly observed, while travel to and from areas with a high number of recorded infections should be limited to only a few reasons and dining out discouraged. These levels can be reviewed at shorter intervals, like twice a week, instead of every month or fortnight.

Sustainability should be the focus here, not the temporary inconvenience. Besides adding another layer of safety, it provides breathing space to businesses and daily wage earners, and lets retailers sustain themselves in the absence of unlimited government aid. Small and medium enterprises can hire temporary or gig workers to keep themselves lean while supporting the local workforce. On the other hand, larger companies, which have better connectivity and reach, would do well to move a portion of their operations online.

The plans drawn up should also be on a short-term basis – not very economical, but it helps avoid wastage and losses incurred due to forced cancellations. Also, there mustn’t be wild fluctuations in dynamic pricing models and the surcharge rates should be published, including for “unpopular” decisions like raising toll or public transport prices, during the recovery phase of movement curbs at least.

Putrajaya, too, has to be on “sustainability” mode, promoting the domestic economy and food self-sufficiency, and stemming the currency outflow while encouraging long-term inflow.

The best things are those that move with the times, and knowing this, we should make our national plans more adaptable. – July 29, 2020.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* 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.