When a ‘total’ lockdown is anything but total!
THE International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) recently announced that it will allow a grand total of 128,150 companies with a total workforce of 1.57 million to operate during the country’s total lockdown period from June 1 to 14.
The decision had, unsurprisingly, drawn quite a lot of negative reaction among the masses. Furthermore, the health ministry (on June 5) has detected 24 new COVID-19 clusters in the past 24 hours, with 17 of them identified as workplace clusters.
In case these figures fail to clue you in on the severity of the situation, let’s look at this from a broader scope: over the week in review, workplace clusters have accounted for 71 (54.4%) of the 138 new clusters that were reported.
Senior Minister cum Miti Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali also said that the companies are allowed to operate during the movement control order (MCO) 3.0 with strict adherence to the new standard operating procedures (SOPs).
But who are we kidding? If these companies had really adhered to the ‘strict’ SOPs in the first place, we wouldn’t be seeing so many workplace clusters in the first place, would we?
According to the Prime Minister’s Office in a recent statement, all sectors are not allowed to operate except for essential economic and services sectors listed by the National Security Council during this lockdown period.
Logically speaking, the only sectors that should be allowed to operate are those involved with food, agriculture and health.
This is to help reduce the pressure on the country’s healthcare system which is currently at a critical stage, and allowing this many companies to operate during this period isn’t helping a bit.
Don’t forget, the whole purpose of having a ‘total lockdown’ is to bring down the number of cases, not further contribute to the numbers.
If anything, Miti’s move defeats the purpose of a total lockdown. In fact, why bother calling it a ‘total lockdown’ in the first place? Wouldn’t ‘partial lockdown’, or MCO 4.0 be a better choice instead?
So please, put a stop to this by committing to a total lockdown, for without it, there is very little hope for the COVID-19 situation in the country to see an improvement. – June 6, 2021
The decision had, unsurprisingly, drawn quite a lot of negative reaction among the masses. Furthermore, the health ministry (on June 5) has detected 24 new COVID-19 clusters in the past 24 hours, with 17 of them identified as workplace clusters.
In case these figures fail to clue you in on the severity of the situation, let’s look at this from a broader scope: over the week in review, workplace clusters have accounted for 71 (54.4%) of the 138 new clusters that were reported.
Senior Minister cum Miti Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali also said that the companies are allowed to operate during the movement control order (MCO) 3.0 with strict adherence to the new standard operating procedures (SOPs).
But who are we kidding? If these companies had really adhered to the ‘strict’ SOPs in the first place, we wouldn’t be seeing so many workplace clusters in the first place, would we?
According to the Prime Minister’s Office in a recent statement, all sectors are not allowed to operate except for essential economic and services sectors listed by the National Security Council during this lockdown period.
Logically speaking, the only sectors that should be allowed to operate are those involved with food, agriculture and health.
This is to help reduce the pressure on the country’s healthcare system which is currently at a critical stage, and allowing this many companies to operate during this period isn’t helping a bit.
Don’t forget, the whole purpose of having a ‘total lockdown’ is to bring down the number of cases, not further contribute to the numbers.
If anything, Miti’s move defeats the purpose of a total lockdown. In fact, why bother calling it a ‘total lockdown’ in the first place? Wouldn’t ‘partial lockdown’, or MCO 4.0 be a better choice instead?
So please, put a stop to this by committing to a total lockdown, for without it, there is very little hope for the COVID-19 situation in the country to see an improvement. – June 6, 2021
Non-Muslim Funeral Parlours come under Ti Lian Ker, Deputy Minister of National Unity. They set the SOP including operating hours. Restricting their operating hours to 8am to 8pm just causes more congestion for people who want to pay last respects.
ReplyDeleteQUOTE
Funeral service providers should be allowed to operate 24/7 during lockdown, says association
By TAN SIN CHOW
NATION
Friday, 04 Jun 2021
GEORGE TOWN: Funeral service providers should be allowed to operate round the clock during lockdown, says the Malaysia Funeral Public Association.
Its president Kong Thian Hau said that the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) and National Unity Ministry should give them the approval to work 24/7 instead of restricting them to an 8am to 8pm window.
“We should be included in the 17 industries deemed essential to remain operational throughout the lockdown period until the end of the pandemic. The services provided are important," he said in a statement on Friday (June 4).
Kong said the role of funeral service providers was to treat the dead with dignity and give them a proper send-off.
"We can help alleviate the burden on hospital mortuaries by making immediate arrangements, especially for those who die of Covid-19. There are standard operating procedures (SOP) for the last rites, especially disinfection and sanitisation, that need to be carried out.
"We want to make the family members feel at ease, especially at this time," he said.
Kong said the funeral industry has a wide range of services, from burial plots, columbarium niches and tomb design to coffins, paper effigies and paraphernalia, and prayer materials to musician's services.
He said the industry also encompassed priests and embalmers, food caterers, shroud makers, transporters and tent/canopy providers.
"These services are in the supply chain and should not be disrupted," he said, adding that everyone in the business is on call around the clock and does not keep regular office hours.
Kong also urged the Federal Government to provide Covid-19 vaccinations for those in the funeral services industry as they come into frequent contact with Covid-19 victims.
"If our industry members are infected with the virus, who can take over from us?
"We want to be vaccinated as a form of protection for our families and ourselves," he said.
Kong said as at 5pm on Thursday (June 3), a total of 36 funeral service providers from the association had secured approval from Miti to carry out operations.
He said the National Unity Ministry had told the association that some 200 operators nationwide would see their applications approved during this lockdown.
On applying to Miti under its Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) 3.0, Kong said his association members should select "pengurusan pengebumian selain Islam" (funeral matters other than Islam) in the system.
"For non-Muslim funeral providers to apply for a travel letter, you need to select 'pengurusan sosial' (social matters) before the system will lead you to 'funeral matters other than Islam'. Once you get the letter, it is still best to check with the nearby police station for clarification so that you won't be stopped at roadblocks," he said.
UNQUOTE
Yes, and Not to forget Tu Lan Ker used police reports to intimidate the person who criticised the ommission of non-Muslim funeral services from the essential services list.
ReplyDeletefrontdoor cakap lockdown, backdoor kasi buka, thats how kerajaan pintu belakang n gajibuta parasite function.
ReplyDeleteHaven't these acts r been recommended by u, from picking a page from our Formosa lecture notes, to yr ketuanan pals?
DeleteWhat to complaint now?
No more crumbs, despite all the beggings!
u very protective of gajibuta n govt not elected by people, me diff, me no communist. me sapot govt elected by people, me no sapot gajibuta, backdoor n gun barrel.
DeleteWakakakakaka…
Delete"me sapot govt elected by people, me no sapot gajibuta, backdoor n gun barrel"
Wow!
High on panadol to drown yr f*cking fever?
Is that what u learnt in Formosa for all these farts?