PUTRAJAYA must urgently engage businesses, parents and stakeholders to plan for another possible lockdown, Subang MP Wong Chen said.

He said expectations are high for another movement-control order after Malaysia’s record number of 3,027 new Covid-19 infections yesterday, but many are worried about the impact of another MCO on the economy.

“What the government has to urgently do, is to engage the business community and other stakeholders to discuss what steps to take next. What can the government and business community agree on? 

“Please don’t just come on TV and make announcements without consultation and for immediate enforcement. In fact, the government should have sorted out scenario plannings months ago and published the same for everyone to understand and prepare in advance,” Wong, from PKR, said in a series of tweets.

The government still has not stated its position clearly on the reopening of schools, due January 20, nor revealed whether any improvements to schools’ standard operating procedure (SOP) had been made during the months when schools were closed last year.

“Will they be handing out free masks, make sanitisers available, and what are the measures implemented to ensure children are socially distanced in classrooms?”

Malaysia has been consistently reporting four-digit Covid-19 cases, increasing from the 1,000s to 3,000 yesterday since mid-November.

Many are anticipating another MCO after director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah’s remarks on Wednesday that Malaysia needed another “circuit-breaker”. 

Since then however, Putrajaya has made no announcement on the matter.

Wong said Putrajaya must engage businesses and parents, and communicate their plans better and earlier. 

“Give businesses and parents at least three days notice so that businesses and parents can make preparations,” he said.

“In short, public policy decision making is needed in the next few days. Clear, decisive and concise leadership is required. Can this government deliver and implement these? Can this government even try to be a bit more efficient and prepared like the Japanese?”

Tokyo declared a state of emergency in the capital city after recorded 2,447 cases yesterday.

Wong said that even in its state of emergency, schools remain open as they had very high SOP standards. Businesses also remain open under work-from home-provisions, while other enterprises such as gyms, stores and entertainment facilities have shorter opening hours and people as generally advised not to go out.

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers and SME Association of Malaysia have warned that a second MCO similar to the first one in March last year would kill more businesses. – January 8, 2021.