LETTER | I never realised just how bad the Covid-19 pandemic was until a friend of mine was infected and eventually passed away due to the infection.

As a small business owner, I was greatly upset and angry with the government for implementing the first movement control order (MCO) last year and again this year.

I just felt the entire episode was being hyped up and there was no reason why we needed a second MCO.

However, after seeing what happened to my friend, I realised just how serious and deadly this pandemic is and why our prime minister had to resort to such actions.

I was among the crowd who initially said the MCO and also emergency were nothing more than political ploys, not realising it was all for the good of the nation.

I cannot imagine what would happen if we were to have another election, following what happened after the Sabah state election.

As a normal citizen, I cannot personally thank the prime minister nor our Health director-general for their efforts, but through this humble letter, I want to express my gratitude for reaching out to people like us.

My small cafe was badly hit the last MCO and thankfully, the government at that time stepped in to assist and we pulled through.

Once again, we face the same predicament and this time around, we have been blessed with the Permai Package.

If not for the help from the government through their wage subsidy programme, I would have been forced to let go of my staff, but fortunately for Permai, I did not have to.

The wage subsidy of RM600 for each employee goes a long way for small business operators like me and is something we really appreciate from the government.

Regardless of what people may say, my family and I are confident with the leadership of our prime minister.

What we cannot understand is why certain other politicians, who should be placing the interests of the rakyat first are still pursuing their personal political interests.

This is certainly not the time for you to be greedy and selfish and trying to take matters to court.

People are dying around you and you are only interested in jostling for power.

This is pure greed and nothing else.

Once again, hats off to Muhyiddin Yassin and also Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah for working relentlessly for the rakyat.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.