ASEAN member states, including Malaysia, must work hand in hand to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and minimise the socio-economic impact on countries, said Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

In a Facebook post today, he said as the widespread effect of the pandemic goes beyond borders, by extension, cooperation at the regional level must be built upon consultation with regional constituents.

“There are no shortcuts out of this pandemic and, given the current rate of the Covid-19 vaccine development, an empowered, engaged community that takes individual behaviourial measures for the interest of others is critical to bring this pandemic under control.

“(At the) Asean level, we need to have common standards… Together, we stand strong in this region for a better prepared tomorrow,” he said.

He also called on Asean member states to stay on top of the situation and keep science above politics, as well as to continue to enhance strategic communication and ensure the public adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Noor Hisham had also said this in a webinar titled “How Can Asean Bounce Back: Fostering Public Health Safety & Economic Resilience for a Borderless Community in Asean” organised by CIMB Asean Research Institute (Cari).

The discussion centred on Malaysia’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic, the country’s cooperation with Asean and the international community in addressing Covid-19, as well as how to strike a balance between public safety and economic survival. – Bernama, August 4, 2020.