YOURSAY | ‘It is not a black-and-white choice between lockdown and no lockdown.’

Is MCO necessary? Other countries didn't resort to lockdown, says Jomo

LimeGoose1712: And you think our government is the only one to be blamed?

Take this. I travel seven days a week, from entering high-end bungalow areas with a security guard post behind every gate to run-down kampung area where the roads are like a maze. People mingle around like "physical distancing" never existed in their dictionary, or not wearing their masks properly (if they ever wear one).

The problem is, not only the civil servants in other countries are more professional in things they do, citizens of those countries referred to by Khazanah Research Institute research adviser Jomo Kwame Sundaram are significantly more aware of their civic responsibility and they generally have higher level of situational awareness compared to us.

To implement the same strategy by those countries in our home soil is like comparing the experienced parents parenting their grown-up kids to the inexperienced parents parenting their toddlers.

I'm certainly not saying that all civil servants and all citizens are equally bad, but why stop their discussion there? We can discuss in greater details on how such an ideal situation can be achieved.

It's time for us to face all the core problems and tediously find the missing link of the issues we've only been grunting about in comment sections and mamak stalls.

Spinnot: It is not a black-and-white choice between lockdown and no lockdown.

China and Vietnam, the most successful countries in tackling the pandemic, have imposed varying degrees of lockdowns at different times.

Lockdown alone would not contain the pandemic, other measures are also necessary, including contact tracing, testing, and strictly enforced quarantine.

China has imposed partial lockdown when new Covid-19 cases emerged in Liaoning and Urumqi (July), Qingdao and Kashgar (October) and conducted mass testing of the whole population of these cities.

ManOnTheStreet: Yes, from what I have read, China has a strategy of mass testing and highly efficient contact tracing. They have not had strict lockdowns since Wuhan.

They do lockdown specific targeted areas (CMCO-style) and test, test, test, and isolate the positive cases. Then they quickly open up again.

They ensure their economic activities carry on and internationally, they are one of the few countries showing positive economic growth. They did not neglect their economy in managing the pandemic.

MS: This explains how some of the more sensible governments have managed the crisis. The data says it all. Vietnam stands out as an exemplar. And that justifies Jomo’s contention that there are alternatives to total lockdowns.

As with everything else in Malaysia, "pandemic management" is also driven by politics, and in the case of this shaky regime, the politics of political survival.

Which is why what we have continued to get since February are shameless acts of appeasement, double standards, threats, grandstanding, deification and intriguingly stupid SOPs which get modified, but only after more sensible citizens express their outrage.

The latest manifestation of this devious, self-serving politics is the proposed Budget 2021.

Caught and Bowled: Expecting a government such as the current Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, which is cobbled together premised on treachery and betrayal of people's mandate, to have the rakyat's interests at heart is akin to believing an elephant can fly and hum soothing melodies.

After months of shameless attempts to bribe MPs with positions and other inducements, this ‘backdoor’ regime has only managed to put together the support of, at best, 113 lawmakers.

From its inception, the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) has been shrouded in dubious and conflicting guidelines.

Minister and deputy ministers of inept and insipid character have been openly flouting the quarantine rules and got away with a slap on the wrist. Parliament sitting was reduced to farcical half-day theatrics with the excuse of fighting the spread of Covid-19. Shameless attempts have been made to declare a state of emergency.

Lawlessness and desperate politicking for survival seem to be the new norm during this challenging time. God bless Malaysia.

OrangePony5652: Jomo has some pertinent advice here and any ruling government should pay heed.

Our economic woes weren’t inherent; it was set upon by the incompetence of PN government who were more in the political game of thrones than looking out for the welfare of Malaysians.

If this conditional MCO (CMCO) continues beyond 2021 January, Malaysians can kiss goodbye to building back the economy to an even heel.

GrayShark6937: It's easy to point the shortcoming of MCO, but I don't see Jomo contribute any solution to address the Covid-19 issue we are facing.

MCO may not be the best solution for the rest of the world, but for Malaysia, it is necessary due to our own third world mentality.

Kawak: Jomo, you are right in some ways but in Malaysia, it just cannot happen.

Firstly, Malaysians are lacking in civic consciousness and discipline in comparison with some East Asian countries like Japan, Korean and Taiwan. Blatant breaching of SOPs under CMCO is a daily affair. The ‘tidak apa’ and ‘tak kisah’ attitude is so prevalent.

Secondly, the politicians are so engrossed in power struggle. They spent useless time to politicise every tiny issue. Worse, they play up racial sentiments to remain popular while destroying the nation.

The PN government has one of the biggest cabinets in the world for a small country. This is a political decision to keep the MPs happy and not jump ship. The calibre of the MPs is questionable.

Lastly, we need charismatic, strong and strategic leadership to drive through the present turbulence. Sadly, we lack a PM with such attributes.

YOURSAY | MCO does not help the economy, but SOP does

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