SERI has identified five primary areas of focus and presents its recommendations below.
1. ECONOMY
The government should raise the debt to GDP ratio ceiling so that it is able to borrow more in order to fund further medium to long-term stimulus packages. Given that most of Malaysia remains with some form of movement control order, many Malaysians are still unable to earn sufficient income to support themselves and their families. Stimulus packages should place particular emphasis on cash assistance for the most vulnerable of society, including the B40 and segments of the M40. Additionally, it is imperative that funds are allocated for purchasing essential digital devices – especially since the reopening of schools has been postponed multiple times. Furthermore, Malaysia must develop resilient and competitive digital infrastructure to meet the needs of the country, in the present and beyond COVID.
In order to avoid widespread misunderstandings, the government should also provide a clear and consistent traffic-light based system to explain the reopening of the economy and society. These should explain the health parameters necessary for the government to allow socioeconomic activities to resume in phases. By doing so, the government can ensure that all individuals and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are adequately prepared to come back into business and conduct their daily lives in a safe manner. This can also prevent unnecessary lockdowns as individuals will be able to adjust their behaviour accordingly.
2. HEALTH
The government should also increase targeted mass COVID-19 tests in areas of high prevalence, until the percentage of positive tests over total tests performed is less than 5 per cent. This is especially important to detect asymptomatic cases, who would normally have no reason to get tested. By doing so, more accurate data would be collected to understand the spread of the virus and introduce more effective mitigation measures.
Next, the government should increase its allocation of funds for mental health services and infrastructure. In the 2021 National Budget, only MYR26 million was allocated to this cause. Malaysians have been forced to stay at home for nearly 2 years now, which has brought a wide range of adverse mental health consequences to all persons. Without sufficient access to mental health services, the upward trend of increasing suicide rates, domestic abuse, and silent suffering will continue.
3. EDUCATION
The government should hire unemployed teaching assistants to assist teachers in the existing hybrid education programme to create a conducive learning environment that mixes home digital teaching with in-class instructions. This would be particularly useful for teachers who struggle to use digital devices and materials well due to a lack of training.
Assuming schools reopen in October, hybrid learning is likely to be necessary as some parents may continue to feel uncomfortable sending their children to school. These teaching assistants could be deployed nationwide, and be able to ensure that each student gets the attention and assistance that they need to learn well and catch up from almost 18 months of online learning.
To facilitate a safe return to school for all, the government should prioritise vaccinating all teachers and staff of educational institutions. At the end of July, over 70% of teachers and 65% of supporting staff had received their first doses. In early August, the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force expanded the walk-in vaccination initiative to include those under the Education Ministry.
Since the government postponed the reopening of schools, there is an opportunity to ensure that 100% of teachers and staff have received both doses of their vaccines by the time students return to school. This would ease the worries of Malaysian parents as well as reduce the chance of transmissions where schoolchildren get infected and bring the virus home to their parents. grandparents, and/or other family members who may be immunocompromised or face a higher risk of COVID-19 complications.
4. GOVERNANCE
COVID-19 has severely disrupted the lives of the rakyat and illustrated the importance of a functioning democracy, especially during a crisis. Instead of idly languishing in a time of crisis, Parliament should be empowered to function at its fullest. Governance and integrity are the fundamental pillars ensuring a strong and effective Parliament. Collaboration and cooperation between political parties across the spectrum is essential for a holistic approach in ensuring effective policymaking and implementation.
Parliament should propose an introspective Royal Commission of Inquiry into the manner in which the COVID-19 crisis was handled in order to learn from mistakes and better prepare ourselves for the next pandemic. Future-proof and robust regulatory frameworks must be fortified to ensure that the rakyat is not thrown into a frenzy and abruptly forced to adapt and manage the socioeconomic fallout of a crisis without any understandable roadmap or direction.
Parliament should view the disruption caused by the pandemic as a catalyst for regulatory transformation rather than a hindrance or an obstacle. Agile policymaking should encompass regulations, policies, systems, infrastructure, resources, and contingency plans to anticipate and enable quick responses to similar crises. It is imperative to develop inclusive policies and deploy responsive services to address and alleviate inequalities so as to build a more resilient Malaysia.
5. ENVIRONMENT
Consider the need to mitigate environmental risks as part of public health responses. Environmental disasters have only served to exacerbate the existing difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, whether impacting one’s health or economic security For example, flooding increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission as sanitation conditions deteriorate at an alarming rate, and individuals who have suffered a loss in income or lost their jobs altogether are now forced to bear the additional risks and costs associated with flooding.
Additionally, Parliament should revise the Environmental Quality Act 1974 to include climate change and sustainability as well as mandate greenhouse gases management and reporting. The Government should instruct the Energy Commission to reduce the reliance on coal as a source of energy for power generation whilst creating incentives that will stimulate the renewable economy.
Policies that revolve around recycling, energy efficiency and water management must be formulated. Acknowledging that industrial activities have contributed to high carbon emissions, policies to regulate their use of fossil fuels as energy-generating sources will go a long way in enabling a clean and sustainable environment.
The Way Forward
Undeniably, the pandemic has unveiled the cracks and fissures in our systems, and the new administration has an opportunity to right systemic wrongs. Malaysia needs decisive and inclusive leadership which will strengthen economic, societal, and infrastructural resilience, effectiveness, and responsiveness. We must strive to lead change for the region in cohesive policy-making that ensures effective and resilient public services, with leading-edge technology, providing solutions to not only exit the pandemic, but also recover, build resilience, and increase competitiveness.
*The Social & Economic Research Initiative (SERI) is a non-partisan think-tank dedicated to the promotion of evidence-based policies that address issues of inequality. For more information, please visit seri.my or send an e-mail to [email protected]
**The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
