ALLOWING all economic sectors to operate as usual during a nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic defeats the entire purpose of its implementation, said J. Solomon.

The National Union of Bank Employees secretary-general said it would be more effective if the government allowed only essential sectors to operate, like it did in the first lockdown last year.

Among the essential services allowed during the first lockdown were food supply, utilities, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, delivery and courier services, public transportation and certain areas of the manufacturing industry. 

“Declaring a nationwide MCO is a good decision but allowing all economic sectors to operate as normal is not going to solve the immediate problem we are facing.

“With most Covid-19 clusters coming from workplaces and factories, allowing these places to operate defeats the purpose of the MCO,” Solomon told The Malaysian Insight.

Malaysia imposed a national lockdown from tomorrow as cases trended above 3,000 and 4,000 in the past few weeks, less than two months after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin promised no more nationwide restrictions.

The prime minister said restrictions against inter-district and interstate travel and social activities, sports and education are effective from yesterday till June 6, while other restrictions will commence from tomorrow till June 7.

This is the first time that the government has enforced a four-week MCO while the previous orders were issued for up to two weeks at a time.

In implementing the lockdown, Muhyiddin said employers must carry out the work-from-home arrangement with no more than 30% of management employees allowed at any one time, while factories are allowed to operate as normal.

According to Health Ministry data, more than 500 workplace clusters have been detected so far and they continue to account for a significant portion of the daily Covid-19 clusters report.

Solomon said the government has not learnt its lesson and are continuously repeating its mistakes.

Using Australia as an example, he said the country would implement a total lockdown in a city even if one positive case is detected.

Solomon does not expect Malaysia to replicate Australia’s move but said the first MCO proved that with stricter and tighter standard operating procedure, the cases can be controlled.

“What we saw in the beginning, that was a good MCO, a strict one.

“We are making the same mistakes again and again. So, I think it is not the right move and I hope the prime minister will look into it.

“The government should not compromise on health and safety just for economic purposes. So, I think everybody needs to cooperate,” he said.

On March 17, Muhyiddin had promised that there would be no more blanket lockdowns in the country.

But the prime minister yesterday said the Perikatan Nasional government had to take drastic steps to stop the rise in new Covid-19 infections.

Malaysia recorded 3,807 cases yesterday bringing the cumulative total to 444,484 while the total number of deaths stands at 1,700. The current number of active cases now is 37,396 with 434 in intensive care units and 224 requiring respiratory assistance.

Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan, meanwhile, had a contrasting view.

He said it was important for the economic sectors to operate to prevent the country from going through a colossal amount of losses.

Shamsuddin said it was important to balance life and livelihood.

“If we close these economic sectors, then the impact on the economy will be very serious, just like the first MCO where the losses suffered by the country was huge.

“So, I don’t think our country can afford that kind of loss,” he said.

Shamsuddin was all positive with the current announcement, hoping that this round of MCO would flatten the Covid-19 curve and at the same time enhance the economy. – May 11, 2021.