ON May 31, the death count in Malaysia due to Covid-19  was 2,796. A month after full lockdown was implemented on June 30, the death toll was 5,170. In June alone, 2,374 deaths were recorded.

Fast forward to today, the number is 7,440. There are 10 days left in July and we are already at 2,270 deaths this month. That’s 108 deaths a day every day since July 1. Nobody will be surprised if we hit 8,000 deaths before August. Eight thousand deaths. A staggering figure.

When I wrote part 1 of this article, I mentioned that the bodies were going to pile up. On May 31, the fatality rate was 0.48%. It has reached 0.77% in less than two months. We have 927 patients in ICU and 459 intubated. I am fairly certain there have been many suicide cases due to Covid which are not taken into account.

The question is, what are we doing to mitigate this? What is working and not working? I am glad and grateful vaccination is ramping up. Aiming for herd immunity is a move in the right direction. But is that enough? Can we contain this disaster? Do we even think we can? Or do we know what we are doing? We had 33 dead on arrival cases yesterday. It was 10 the day before.

Between the end of May and now, what have we done to manage this better? The sentiment on the ground is appalling. Does anyone in power and the government truly care? The DPM announcing the daily arrest figures due to SOP violations is not going to bring down the death count. The hospitals are overwhelmed and medical front liners are drowning. The announcement that school will reopen in stages starting in September sounds like an insult. Do we know what we are doing? 

The lockdowns aren’t working. Your aid is not sufficient. Your plans are at best confusing if not mind boggling. Your enforcement is a joke and a disgrace. Your double standards are shameful and sickening. Your arrogance and lack of empathy are unforgivable. 

The people are losing their minds. Angry and sad. Mental health is deteriorating and harmony is at risk. The light at the end of the tunnel is not seen. Darkness and uncertainty continues. We are resorting to men on the street to help each other. To put food on the  table and help some to pay bills and rent. Or both. The sheer number of people reaching out for assistance from fellow Malaysians is unbelievable. How did we fall this deep? Have you sunk so low that even the lives of innocent citizens are no longer a concern as long as you can remain in power?

Now going back to the original intent of part 1 of this article, I recently read about eight siblings, the eldest of them 19 and the youngest, four, being orphaned due to Covid 19. They lost both their mother and their father to the deadly virus. This case is just the tip of the iceberg when you consider the death toll has exceeded 7,000. If we can’t even care for those who are sick due to this pandemic or other illness, when we cant provide enough for those who has lost their jobs and income, when we treat the immigrant like they are not worthy I am afraid to think if we truly care for those who is dead and their loved ones who left behind. At the end of the day, is it merely statistics? 

Is there a special state fund can be created to look after the well being of these unfortunate kids? What happens to their future? Who is responsible? Do we have records of these families so we can help them out? Can we ensure that they are safe and protected? Not only for photo op and social media frenzy but complete and comprehensive care and long term plans? We are so overwhelmed with daily statistics that we forgot that the number is not just a statistical figure. It’s someone’s father, mother, siblings, lover, best friend and companion. 

Even if the community wishes to help look after them a la KitaJaga.co, we still need information on who to contact. Is JKM working on this? Which government agency is working to support the family? Many questions that no one is willing or able to answer, while the victims move on knowing the state has failed them. The state has failed us. Stand up and ask questions or no one will ask questions when you drop dead one day due to the greedy and uncaring criminals. – July 22, 2021.

* Abdul Haleem reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.