LETTER | The Covid-19 pandemic is giving Malaysians a chance to recalibrate our lifestyle choices.

Will the government, politicians, community and religious leaders commit to help Malaysians to re-orientate our lifestyles for the better?

Covid-19 has demonstrated the vitality of the human immune system.

You need not know rocket science to appreciate the importance of food choices, hygiene and exercise that in its combination can give us a better immune system.

But it takes honest admission to state that we Malaysians have seriously compromised on these three pillars of good health.

Fruits and greens are not the preferred choice. Instead, the mushrooming fast-food eateries and processed frozen food rows in supermarkets tell the truth of our eating habits.

All the exercise publicity in Putrajaya did not even wet the skins of our skulls as we continue to claim that we do not have time to exercise in our tamans daily.

We had a rich culture of relying on ulam and humble kampung vegetables as a daily dose to accompany our meals. But all that is lost as we now have become a huge beef and mutton importer and prefer eating out of canned foods.

Obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cancer have become our prevalent challenges. The Covid-19 fatality showcases this truth. But are we bothered?

We join the chores of many nations accusing the Chinese in Wuhan of eating exotic or ugly meats.

But don't we Malaysians feel any remorse over how badly and far off we have drifted in our personal, communal and national choices of lifestyles?

Can't we see how we have abandoned our rich and safety past and thrown healthy food, exercise and hygiene out of the windows of our so-called progress and development?

We cannot recalibrate if the government does not make serious efforts to correct the scales.

It is time that all segments of society - from politicians to religious to civil society and professional circuits - converge to craft a national agenda to help Malaysians make a switch for a better immune system.

Slogans and preaching is futile. We need policies that can be supported by public and private enterprises.

We need to craft an economy that prioritises and thrives on healthy food, daily exercise and public hygiene as well as a cleaner environment.

We need to address the problems of obesity, diabetes, heart diseases and cancer. Advise has expired.

We need to focus on our body's immune system.

We need to intensify our knowledge and understanding about food science, nutrition, exercise and good hygiene.

From the stall operator using recycled, inferior cooking oil to fry and sell his dishes to factories profiteering from undisclosed chemicals in the recipe, we need to take decisive action.

From farmlands relying on pesticides to make a killing to fish farms; from livestock sins to manufacturing pollution, we need to decide now what is our future path if we are to commit to improving our immune systems.

A government that cannot transform its citizens' health and wellness is a failed government.

All the mortars and runaway successes on the stock market are no insurance for a nation of healthy citizens.

Without a good immune system, we will only count more miseries if another virus sweeps through our country.

We can change our destiny with healthy food choices, daily exercises and public and personal hygiene.

Is Malaysia ready? 

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