Only red zones should be locked down while businesses in green zones should be allowed to operate in order to revive the economy.
By Michael Tay, who is the Johor Covid-19 Pandemic Taskforce chairman, and also Johor MCA Government Coordinating Chairman.
It is not logical nor does it make economic sense to lock down the safe zones or compare Johor with other states that have a high Covid-19 infection rate.
I would urge the Federal Government and also the Johor Menteri Besar to allow eateries, hair salons and shopping malls which are not in the red zones to reopen.
It’s not about getting vaccinated anymore. People’s savings are depleting due to the pandemic. Some have already started using their retirement funds.
We should follow Sabah’s model. The Federal Government should not impose excessive restrictions on any state which do not have a high infectivity rate.
I once again urge the Federal Government to let the Menteri Besar and his committee of health professionals from the state to draw up their own SOPs in battling the pandemic.
The Menteri Besar should know the red zones, the safe zones, and the landscape and demography of his state better than anyone else. If the Menteri Besar of a state is not a health expert, then the health personnels from the top hospitals should be tasked to advise him.
The public would thank the Federal Government if businesses can re-open, as many entrepreneurs and industries are hanging by a thread over the continued lockdown.
Food court and restaurants that offer only takeaways are not earning enough to sustain their business.
The Federal Government should adopt a decentralized approach. Let each state have its own SOP.
I sympathise with the healthcare workers but I also hear the pleas of small business owners and those who have lost their jobs, who have depleted all their savings and are turning into paupers, some are resorting to a life of crime while some are contemplating suicides.
It has been reported that textile and apparel factories have ceased operations since last year, leaving about 6,000 employees retrenched. The chain reaction of that was numerous small-medium enterprises have also shut down or downsized causing about 15,000 to lose their jobs.
The problem with Selangor having such huge spike in the number of Covid-19 cases is because of the foreign workers in factories. Many of these workers are believed to be illegal, so they try to avoid getting caught. Majikan perlu ambil tanggungjawab saring pekerja asing
Factory owners should conduct tests at their own premises and isolate the workers who tested positive. This would prevent the infected ones from spreading the virus to others.
Targeted lockdowns should be practiced, and those who have received two doses of the vaccine should be allowed more freedom, if they are well. So, please don’t miss your appointment if you have been called up.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in Your Say are those of the contributor, not the blog owner.
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