MCO needed to control pandemic, for economic recovery - Experts

Following the decision by the government, the public has raised their concerns on how the two-week MCO in Penang, Selangor, the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, Melaka, Johor and Sabah would affect those in business, especially small entrepreneurs.

Experts, however, believed the implementation which is aimed at flattening the COVID-19 curve, is crucial for the health and economy sectors.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Assoc Prof Dr Kulanthayan K.C. Mani said that with the current healthcare system at breaking point to cope with the large number of patients, the MCO is undoubtedly needed.

"We all know that the MCO would affect the economic sector gravely, but health is more important and thus takes precedence. Once we are able to bring COVID-19 infections within our control and management, then the focus will be the economic sectors again.

"Nevertheless, it is vital to balance both the needs of health and economy. We need both to survive. We hope the MCO period will not be long and this can only be achieved with strict discipline among the population to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs). In this way, we can quickly flatten the curve and our economy can ease up soon," he said to Bernama.

In the meantime, Dr Kulanthayan, who is also UPM Safe Kids Malaysia executive director, highlighted that the government needs to help B40 (lower income) group but not forget, the M40 (lower middle income) group, who will also be badly impacted by the MCO.

"For instance, the government can provide aid in terms of rentals, wage subsidies and utility bills such as electricity and water bills, interest free loans, tax reliefs and deferments of payments, he said.

Meanwhile, Prof Emeritus Dr Barjoyai Bardai of Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UniRazak) said due to the MCO, government must introduce drastic initiatives to assist small businesses and help people to start businesses from home.

"At the same time, we expect that micro businesses would be badly affected too. Thus, these groups, affected households and micro enterprises must be helped. This is the time for government to create a budget to help affected households to start businesses from home.

"(The) Government needs to help them not just in terms of (cash) handouts, but assistance to make sure they can stay alive in business. This is where the government needs to put in extra efforts," said the economist.

Dr Barjoyai also said that with the emergency proclaimed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, which will be enforced up to Aug 1, Malaysia's economy is now dependent internally.

Therefore, he concluded there was opportunity in developing the local market as he expected that there will be no new businesses initiated by foreigners in this country, during the emergency period.

On Friday (Jan 15), Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Kelantan would also come under the MCO from Jan 16-26 due to the spike in COVID-19 cases in the state.