COMMENT | What does proper crisis leadership sound like?
COMMENT | Having now heard announcement after announcement about movement control orders (MCOs) (and announcements that announce future announcements), one burning question keeps popping up in my mind: Is it really that hard?
Is it really that hard to be a government that genuinely puts the people first, and makes logical policies reflecting that?
Look, I’m far from the smartest person in the country, I’m sure I’m not even the smartest person in my house. But I think even an idiot like me could sketch out the kind of announcement and policies Malaysians are dying to hear from a leader, instead of what we have been forced fed time and again.
Let me take a swing at it...
COMMENT | Having now heard announcement after announcement about movement control orders (MCOs) (and announcements that announce future announcements), one burning question keeps popping up in my mind: Is it really that hard?
Is it really that hard to be a government that genuinely puts the people first, and makes logical policies reflecting that?
Look, I’m far from the smartest person in the country, I’m sure I’m not even the smartest one in my house. But I think even an idiot like me could sketch out the kind of announcement and policies Malaysians are dying to hear from a leader, instead of what we have been forced fed time and again.
Let me take a swing at it, and you can tell me what you think.
(For the record, in case the authorities get confused, the following is an imagined speech from a premier of my fantasy - not an attempt to fabricate fake news. Please take note.)
“My fellow Malaysians, Malaysia has now recorded over 6,000 daily cases for three consecutive days. Our total number of cases has exceeded the half-million mark, and 2,199 people have lost their lives due to Covid-19.
“This is the worst the pandemic has ever been for Malaysia. This should serve as a wake-up call for Malaysians, and I am here today to promise you that our government is not sleeping.
“We realise and acknowledge that what we have done so far has failed to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. If we keep doing the same thing, we will get the same results.
“Thus, while we do not expect your forgiveness, we will work to regain your trust and confidence, by embarking on radical policy shifts.
“The first of these has already been implemented. All decisions with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic will now be made by a single joint committee, representing the National Security Council, representatives of the Health, Finance, and International Trade and Industry Ministries, and relevant policy experts. This committee has already met, and has reached a consensus regarding the following new policies.
“Our first guiding goal is to contain the Covid-19 pandemic once and for all. Our long term strategy is to employ strict movement controls nationally until daily cases are brought down to at least double digits. Thereafter, we must be vigilant and ready to reimpose strict lockdowns should the cases rise into the triple digits again.
“Although this will be a bitter pill for everyone, we have decided that this is the most effective way to permanently end this cycle of rising numbers and MCOs, and contain the pandemic effectively over the long term, as has been done in New Zealand and Taiwan.
“We realise this will represent a serious challenge to the lives of all Malaysians. The government must, and will, do everything in its power to ease the burdens of Malaysians affected by these lockdowns."
“The government will maintain and update an integrated website which will serve as a single reference point to indicate which essential industries are allowed to operate as normal. This webpage will clearly and unambiguously define which industries qualify as essential and which are deemed to be non-essential.
“Non-essential industries will not be allowed to open physically. Any non-essential industry that cannot function via working from home will need to submit an application if they wish to remain open.
“Under no circumstances will any non-essential industry be allowed to have more than 30 percent of staff physically present on site.
“Restaurants, food delivery services, grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, petrol station stores, will be allowed to operate from 8am to 10pm. No dine-in is allowed.
“Indoor shopping malls will be required to close all stores except for restaurants and grocery stores. An exhaustive list regarding permissions will be published on our integrated website.
“All schools and institutions of learning will be restricted to online activities only. Pre-schools and daycare centres will be allowed to open, but parents are encouraged to keep their children at home as much as possible.
“Gyms, spas, and other indoor sports or recreational facilities will not be allowed to open. Casinos will be completely closed. Outdoor activities such as walking, running, or cycling will be allowed. An exhaustive list regarding permissions will again be published on our integrated website.
“Public transport services will operate as normal for those who are required to work on-site in essential industries and services, but commuters are advised that they might at any time be required by authorities to provide reasons for their travel."
“Travel beyond administrative municipal districts for any reason other than health-related appointments or emergencies and work in essential industries is not allowed. A map with these districts clearly demarcated will be published on our integrated website.
“Only the committee members of mosques, churches, temples, and other religious places of worship will be allowed to perform religious obligations on site.
“The government is now doubling the fine for any elected representative or senior civil servant who is caught breaching these rules.
“Any individual who is found to be a repeat offender, especially those whose offences are documented with clear visual evidence, will not be allowed to compound their offence or pay a fine, but instead be given a mandatory jail sentence. The jail term will be doubled for any elected representative or senior civil servant.
“We are fully aware that these measures will have a negative economic impact that will be particularly difficult for those in the B40 category.
“The government has reviewed our financial situation and economic standing. After due consideration, we believe the best course of action is for the government to borrow more money now, to avoid an even more costly future economic meltdown.
“While we do not like to spend more money than we have, we realise that if we do not tackle the health and economic crisis today, the effects will be even more financially costly later on.
“To that end, we have decided to pursue a loan of RM100 billion. About 70 percent of these funds will go to direct economic aid for the B40 group, with a focus on owners of small businesses that cannot operate properly during the MCO, Malaysians who can demonstrate that they have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and wage subsidies for SMEs.
“We will also use these funds to continue making sure educational content is available both online and over television and broadcast media, and increase the number of internet-ready tablets to B40 children."
“We will invest in better protective services for Malaysians who may be experiencing domestic violence and/or mental and emotional stress as a result of the pandemic.
“Most of the remaining funds will go towards battling Covid-19 directly. We will invest in ramping up Covid-19 testing and vaccination, as these are the key fronts in the battle against Covid-19.
“To protect our first and last line of defence, investments will also be made into improving working conditions for healthcare frontliners, and moving government doctors from contract-based work to permanent employment.
“Our plan is to consolidate this RM100 billion debt over a 10-15 year period. If we are able to tackle this Covid-19 crisis properly this time, this should be an achievable economic target.
“All cabinet members will take an 80 percent pay cut and all elected representatives will take a 40 percent pay cut until the daily cases are brought down to at least double digits.
“Parliament will also be reopened, and we welcome the feedback of elected representatives, and trust them to play their role in providing check and balance to the government."
“My fellow Malaysians, Covid-19 is the biggest crisis Malaysia has faced in our generation. It is affecting more people, and it is costing more lives than any crisis most of us have lived through.
“All Malaysians have been affected one way or another. Some are struggling to keep their finances afloat. Some have lost loved ones.
“The virus affects us all, regardless of race, religion, politics, or socioeconomic standing. And we can only beat the virus if we put aside our differences to fight this virus together, regardless of race, religion, politics, or socioeconomic standing.
“We are thus creating a consultative platform that includes representatives from all political parties, policy experts, and civil society, as we believe all voices must be heard. It is our firm belief that we all share common ground and the shared goal of defeating this virus once and for all. We will only succeed if we work together.
“There are tough times ahead, but I know that Malaysians are a tough people, equal to any challenge ahead. With God’s help, and with faith and confidence in each other, we will prevail. Thank you.”
NATHANIEL TAN is a strategic communications consultant. Twitter: @NatAsasi, Clubhouse: @Nathaniel_Tan, Email: nat@engage.my. #BangsaMalaysia #NextGenDemocracy.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
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