DRACONIAN laws are not the right response to a Covid 19 epidemic that has been brought under control

It is good that Parliament, after taking the nationwide flood situation into consideration, has postponed the proposed amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988  (Act 342). 

The opposition, business associations, and various other groups have criticised some of the amendments to the act for being too harsh. The fines for individuals, industries and  organisations are unreasonably punitive large and smacks of totalitarianism, as a tool for the government to strike fear among law-abiding citizens. 

Now that the country is nearing the tail end of the pandemic – despite the threat of the new virus variant Omicron – there is no need to panic as it is no longer new and we have learnt from our own experience and that of other countries who have overcome Covid 19. The people and industries have suffered much in  the pandemic and hefty fines will shatter their lives.

Malaysia did not insist on such draconian laws when the pandemic broke out early last year. Why is there now why a need for them?  Both Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and health director- general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah need to be more reasonable and considerate.

The government too is at fault for taking unnecessary risks with public health, such as by holding the Malacca and Sarawak elections. Recent events initiated or sponsored by the government have drawn large crowds that pose a high risk of virus transmission. 

The government should not allow big gatherings, no matter the occasion. It needs to do its duty to the people instead of blaming them and punishing them with tough laws. There is no assurance that harsher laws will stop transmission of  Covid 19.  There is a possibility of an increase in graft considering the heavy fines. It is also hoped that there will be no repetition of the mega vaccination centres for vaccine booster jabs, which should be administered on a registration and appointment basis. 

The floods have added to the risk of more coronavirus outbreaks as health SOPs are difficult to enforce during evacuation and rescue missions and at the the relief centres.

Despite the assurance that herd immunity would b achieved with a high vaccination rate – we have since achieved a 97% vaccination rate –  daily infections have been stuck in the 5,000 range, which was the figure when  only a small percentage of people were vaccinated. This does not help to persuade the vaccine-hesitant and anti-vaxxers to get their shots. 

Those who opted not to be vaccinated but thought they were protected by herd immunity are at risk now. The anti-vaxxers were certain herd immunity would save them from disease. Now it appears that this may not be the case.

Government hospitals should vaccinate the 3% holdouts, who could number 300,000, upon request  and not just focus on the booster jabs. The hospitals do not show urgency in accommodating those now registering for the first two doses. There are also many foreigners who missed getting the shots for various reasons and need the vaccine for protection.

It will be better for the government to re-introduce strict SOPs, social distancing, mandatory use of MySejahtera and visitor volume control at large venues and public spaces to prevent a resurgence of Covid-19.

One notices that compliance with the SOPs have become somewhat lax and it is here that the government should be strict about enforcement. Existing fines have been sufficient to bring the epidemic down to manageable proportions. There is no need for the draconian laws proposed by the Health Ministry. Laws can be amended in the future when it is necessary to do so, such as when there is truly a threat of a virus resurgence. If the nation can impose unprecedented lockdowns, surely it will not hesitate to impose harsher laws when there is an absolute need. Malaysian citizens are reasonable and will accept tough measures when there is need for them. –  December 24, 2021.

* V. Thomas 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.