JOBS, public education and greater expert knowledge in the fight against Covid-19 – these are priority areas for the new prime minister and his cabinet, a business leader and chamber of commerce head said.

SME Association of Malaysia president Michael Kang said the new government should introduce more comprehensive economic packages that include rent reductions, salary subsidies and loans to help small-and-medium enterprises survive the pandemic.

“Malaysia has become the country with the longest lockdown, more than 500 days,” he said,  referring to the various levels of movement controls that have been in place since mid-March last year.

“And since the third movement control order (MCO) restrictions in May, many small and medium-sized enterprises have been unable to operate.
 
“They have had zero income for more than four months and are facing various debt problems. Some are really drawing on their last breath.”

Kang said the many charity organisations distributing free meal boxes and food banks placed along streets are evidence of the hardships people are facing.

While addressing economic concerns and the survival of SMEs, the new government also has to simultaneously bring the pandemic under control, he told The Malaysian Insight.

Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) president Tan Yew Sing ranks the Health Ministry, and then collectively the ministries of Finance, International Trade and Industry, and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, as the top two priority portfolios for the new government.

“The Health Ministry must be reorganised as soon as possible to not rely on politicians and to use more of the input of experts and scholars, civil servants in the healthcare system, medical experts and other emergency and crisis experts.

“The situation in Malaysia today must be regarded as a war-time emergency,” said Tan.

The second group of ministries, which are those involved in managing the economy, must work in greater collaboration, he said.

“There must be cross-departmental cooperation, and all must collaborate together with non-governmental organisations, chambers of commerce, business and economic experts and scholars.

“They must discuss specifically how to restore the confidence of domestic businesses and foreign investors.”

Tan said one example of a poor decision that would drive away inflows of foreign money is the revised terms of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, which will be resumed in October after a freeze with higher application thresholds on income, assets and fixed deposits, beside higher fees and shorter visa terms.

Tan said he hoped the new government would revert to the previous thresholds.

“Malaysia is now at a weak point; its GDP ranking among Asean countries has fallen to 5th place.

“Those in power should stop thinking that Malaysia is a paradise and make the MM2H programme a priority. You are not improving the country’s attractiveness by raising the thresholds.”

The third ministry to prioritise for Tan is the Education Ministry, which has left many issues unresolved or unclear under Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration.

These include haphazard planning on school re-opening dates amid a pandemic and the widening gap in academic performance between students who can study online comfortably and those who struggle with Internet access and lack of devices.

“The start date for physical school is constantly changing. From September, it is now moved to October.

“And what are the re-opening plans? Till now I have not seen any relevant plans from the ministry on how the re-opening will be implemented.”

As for online classes and students who fall behind, Tan said the ministry has been disappointing with its failure to discuss implementation and more thoroughly with educators and provide them guidance.

Jiao Zong president Cheah Lek Aee also called for a clear plan when re-opening schools in stages.

“In order to ensure the safety of students and reduce the number of Covid-19 cases in schools,  teachers, cafeteria operators, school workers and other people who have contact with students should all be vaccinated before physical classes resume,” said the head of the Chinese school teachers’ association.

“Classes should not all start at once. There must be risk assessments to determine when it is safe for classes to start in stages.”

Cheah said the education ministry must not be in a hurry to reopen schools and ensure a proper plan, with necessary funds, to resume physical classes safely.

The pandemic has also shown the need to be prepared for online teaching and classes, and he urged the ministry to continue providing training for educators to improve their online teaching methods. – August 20, 2021.