YOURSAY | ‘To date, data on testing ability is opaque and piecemeal. This is a red flag.’

It is time to revitalise the economy, says Azmin Ali

Anonymous_16760865429524: The problem is that there is little data-backed discussion in order for people to make an informed decision.

Instead of just blindly supporting an extension or cessation of the movement control order (MCO), we need to ask, do we even have the information to make an informed decision?

Those who are for opening up the economy cite the billions of ringgit in losses. Those who are for extending the MCO cite the infection numbers. Both sides are far too simplistic and emotional.

Many praise the Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah as a heroic messiah. I am in the minority that feels he can do more, much more, in terms of transparency.

There is so little data made available to the public beyond a daily list of how many died and how many infected and how many companies closed.

Whether to open or not to open, one thing is absolutely crucial regardless - testing. To date, data on testing ability is opaque and piecemeal. This is a red flag.

What is the data for and against opening up? What is our current testing ability? What is our capacity to increase testing? What is the plan if the infection rate climbs? Lockdown again?

So whether it is for or against MCO, the pros versus cons data has to be there and a plan B formulated if we are to extend or open up. That is what is glaringly missing.

Ghostwhowalks: Without any thought-out standard operating procedure (SOP), the government announced the reopening of businesses on May 4.

Then 27 foreign workers were tested positive for Covid-19 at a construction site in Kuala Lumpur. As an afterthought, it was then made mandatory to test all foreign workers before industries can start, with costs to be borne by employers.

Can the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) cope with additional costs after suffering gigantic losses during the MCO? Can the Health Ministry cope with testing? The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) came out to say it is not possible.

Health authorities have said there are insufficient test kits to do the mandatory coronavirus testing on foreign workers, so how to start work when all major industries like palm oil plantation, manufacturing and construction depend on foreign workers?

Even wet markets are much dependent on foreign workers. Singapore had shown the major problem concerning migrant workers in the battle against Covid-19.

Minister, talk is cheap and you have not planned on a soft landing as alluded to by the Health director-general.

Unspin: This backdoor government should stop hiding behind Makcik Kiah or Pakcik Salleh as justification for its decision to hastily reopen the economy.

Makcik Kiah might be a good political soundbite that appeals to your base but you might be underestimating the resilience of Makcik Kiah.

A case in point is during the Ramadan period every year, most Makcik Kiah or Pakcik Salleh's businesses naturally slows down, but they can still cope because they have time to plan for the “slowdown”.

The point is if you want to reopen the economy, you must do it with proper planning - to prevent the third wave that might threaten our healthcare capabilities, thus wasting all our efforts to lockdown in the first place.

As many people have already pointed out, you don't announce the reopening over a long three-day weekend and then expect businesses to restart on Monday.

It is simply poor planning or as Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow pointed out, Senior Minister Azmin Ali is too lazy to plan.

Anonymous_1cfb3ab6: Some fine senior minister of economy you are, Azmin. Everyone who understands economics knows that political stability is a key ingredient for economic growth.

You have, together with your team, contributed much to the instability in the last two years. So what kind of economic growth should we expect? And how is it to be funded? By borrowing more, therefore further deteriorating the country’s financials and ratings until we become junk status?

And please stop all this makcik-pakcik analogy rubbish, as it doesn’t change the country’s fundamentals; which looks bad.

Oil is at US$20 plus per barrel, and with Petronas under pressure to contribute more to the budget - that means we need to pump three times more oil to get to parity budget contribution. So how much more oil do we have?

Has anyone updated and disclosed the number of barrels in the ground versus the number of barrels needed annually to support the country?

Other than this, what options do we have? Selling more shares in TNB, CIMB and other listed government-linked companies (GLCs)? We should all fear for the future generations.

ZunNuun: It's time to ease the MCO. Two months is long enough. Will the number of cases increase? Yes, it will. But that is not the issue.

We will have to strike a balance between economic activity and containing the virus. Compared to two months ago, we have more experience. The health system is more prepared.

The rakyat knows what to do with social distancing and good personal hygiene. Testing has also increased. In other words, we are in a better position to deal with Covid-19 now.

Just A Malaysian: Yes, opening the economy is the right move. We don't need a genius to tell us that. The key is how and what to ensure the optimal balance between infection and economic activity.

Careful thoughts into the opening are called for and discussions with state governments is imperative. We have to ease the MCO but we do not have to rush.

Azmin and team saw the economic impact and panicked to some extent. So from stringent lockdown, we move to almost total lifting.

New Hope: Indeed, rushing into this like a headless chicken is not the way to revitalise the economy. Everyone knows that the economy has been suffering for the last six weeks and many need to get back to work.

Azmin, your haphazard way to reopen the economy without proper discussion and the plan communicated to the people will end up with more infections, and if the country needs to go back to the initial MCO status, it will be on both Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and your head.

David Dass: No one will dispute the need to lift the MCO so businesses can operate again. The questions are when and how. There was a reason for the lockdown. Have circumstances changed that it is no longer necessary? Has the threat been contained?

All will accept the need to lift the lockdown even when no vaccine and cure is in sight. We are a small nation and do not have the ability to withstand a prolong shutdown. But the MCO was extended to May 12. And then the sudden announcement of the conditional MCO.

The biggest issue is the liability of employers. What reasonable steps must they take to protect employees from getting infected?

Factories may have to realign their production flow so as to maintain social distancing between their workers. Not all of their workers will be able to work at the same time. There are time and cost involved here.

And whose responsibility is it to maintain social distancing in public transport and spaces?

We all accept that this is a complex issue. But some thought must be given to rules and regulations that will help minimise the risk of the spread of the virus. It is either that or we simply say let whatever happens happen.

Mortality: Countries like Australia and New Zealand are only looking into ‘bubble’ tourism between themselves; and here we are, even when Azmin admitted we are not free of Covid-19, he talks of opening our country to tourism.

Yes, this is a brave new world and not for the faint-hearted, but is it for the foolhardy? Yes, a healthy economy is important but at what costs?

Wira: Azmin, stop dreaming about medical and sports tourism when:

1. Our borders and the borders of others are still closed. Our private hospitals are suffering now for lack of patients.

2. When we disallowed those with MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) visa to return home to their adopted country of retirement and asked them to wait outside the country, it would seem that our leaders like to inflict pain at our customers when it does not benefit us a sen to do that.

Few will trust Malaysia long after the coronavirus pandemic threat is over.

Ayah Punya Kata: The international trade and industry minister has had his say. What does the health minister say? What do the Malaysian epidemiologists say? 

Without money, we cannot live. Without life, we do not need money.

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