IT’S been about seven weeks since we took delivery of the first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines. The number of vaccinated Malaysians is still under a million, far below the 60% population target.

Bhutan, on the other hand, has reached a 93% vaccination rate, in just 16 days. The country is, of course, much smaller, both in terms of population and land mass, but its sheer tenacity and willpower in executing their Covid-19 combat strategy have been nothing short of inspirational, earning the praise of bodies like the World Health Organisation.

Our efforts, while strong and resolute at first, seem to have lost much of their zing. When the virus first hit us over a year ago, healthcare practitioners swung into action and private organisations and ordinary Malaysians quickly moved in to support their efforts. All that resulted in us attaining a near-zero infection rate. 

Today, we are clocking in more cases in one state a day than we were clocking nationwide in a month, then. 

So what happened?  

A large part of it may be due to fatigue. Over a year of lockdowns, restrictions and relaxations and restrictions again, inconsistent implementation and confusing instructions has taken a toll on Malaysia. 

Not helping much is the perceived unequal treatment where some citizens are imposed hefty fines for removing their masks in restaurants before their food arrives while others are allowed to send their personal assistants to assist in  investigations over allegations of honeymoons in breach of inter-state travel bans. 

It would appear political will to curb the coronavirus is also lacking. 

With the face of the vaccination effort, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin working hard to demonstrate things are under control, it doesn’t help when other members of the same cabinet throw in confusing statements to an already confounded public on vaccination priorities and safety. 

Members of the administration should also put on a united front – with healthcare professionals, the scientific community – to first ensure and then assure the public of the safety of the vaccines and protocols.

Sharing of articles that cast doubt on these efforts should be avoided. 

While some members of the opposition and government are working hard to register people for the shots, others do not seem to be  as helpful.

MCA and DAP seem to be at the forefront of the inoculation effort with MCA Youth going to colleges, and DAP leaders like Hannah Yeoh doing cooking shows to attract people to sign up for the jas. The government of Penang’s efforts resulted in getting the most registrations among the states.

On the logistics end, ministers and political leaders should be securing funds for, and shipments of, the vaccine in time to dovetail with these efforts. Deadlines need to be set and adhered to.

We had plans for local production of the vaccines, or at least the repackaging of it. What happened to them? Meanwhile, Vietnam has started producing its own, Thailand has drastically reduced its infection cases, and Singapore has started vaccinating its foreign workers.

Malaysians working in Singapore were vaccinated weeks before their Malaysian frontliner counterparts at home. 

A push is needed not only to secure our health and lower Covid numbers, it is vital to save our economy.

Our investments are falling and the local economy are entering its second cycle of bad news. For example, Ramadan traders and Raya celebrations are seeing their second year of dipped sales and in the long run, more malls may close down and be sold, sometimes outside Malaysia, leading to more currency and possibly job outflow. 

Boosting our vaccination and treatment is crucial in keeping ourselves in the race, or risk losing even more tourist and manufacturing business to our better-prepared neighbours. – April 14, 2021.

* 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.