“We need to provide a conducive environment for them (workers). It’s actually a win-win (solution) and helps with sustainability for the company [...] Certainly with those who do not comply (with these laws) you can see the multiple issues they have to deal with. That will also jeopardise their operations and (goods) production in their company,”

- Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah

COMMENT | These visionary words are foretelling and far-sighted. It comes from the mouth of an expert in health who has been breathing, sleeping and talking about Covid-19 for the past eight months – almost on a daily basis.

It should not be viewed as if he is wielding a big stick, baulking on errant employers or factory owners. It is not a call to put profits before welfare either. Neither is it a threat to enforce the law to the letter.

Instead, it is a plea for some kind of compassion and thoughtfulness for fellow humans. He seeks consideration, sympathy and concern for the working class.

It is a cry for some form of leeway to the archaic master-servant relationship between employers and employees. It is also an imploration of old ways of cure after prevention rather than prevention is better than cure...