The United Nations Association Malaysia (Unam) has called on the government to put in place a better plan to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak.
Its acting president Tan Sri Razali Ismail said the new government, under Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, must also be strongly committed to stemming corruption and power abuse and subscribe to the core values of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity.
“Unam calls on the government to firmly commit towards good governance and accountability with an institutional reform agenda that would result in efficiency and competitiveness eschewing corruption and power abuse.
“The immediate task of the new government must be focused on tackling several pressing issues facing the country, particularly the Covid-19 pandemic,” Razali said in a statement.
“The government must put in place a stronger and more effective national pandemic plan with a high-quality health response, leaving no one behind; while at the same time addressing the fiscal deficit and decline in revenue impacted by the Covid-19.”
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Bar today urged the Malaysian government to impose a lockdown of the country due to the recent spike in confirmed Covid-19 cases.
Malaysian Bar president Salim Bashir, who noted the need for a multi-pronged approach at all levels of society to effectively contain the spread of Covid-19, went on to suggest that lawyers allow their law firm staff to work from home temporarily.
“The Bar Council advises Members of the Bar to consider allowing their employees to work from home for a period of two weeks to minimise the risk of contracting the virus.
“Member firms which are shut down during this period are reminded to inform their respective clients and a clear notice be placed at the firm to indicate how cause papers and other important documents are to be served, and the necessary contact details, if any, provided,” he said in a press statement this afternoon.
The Malaysian Bar also said its president had engaged with the chief justice with the aim of taking steps to protect members of the judiciary, lawyers and the public at large, including by proposing to the judiciary to suspend court proceedings for two weeks except for urgent cases.
“These include the suggestion that the Courts be on lockdown for two weeks, with provisions made for urgent matters to be heard during this period to ensure access to justice is not compromised.
“The chief justice is not prepared for a lockdown of the Courts at this juncture, but nevertheless has indicated that the Courts will issue a Covid-19-related standard operating procedure (“SOP”) later today,” the Malaysian Bar said.
“We take note that the High Court and Subordinate Courts have implemented procedures pertaining to the conduct of case management and mentions in open court, and that all mediation cases be adjourned pending further directions.
“The Bar Council strongly urges the Chief Justice to take proactive measures and consider the Bar Council’s proposal in the interests of all parties on an urgent basis,” it added in the same statement.
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has also urged the Cabinet to declare an “all-out” war against Covid-19 by imposing a lockdown.
MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said instead of continuing with “protracted battles on a piecemeal basis”, the government should have a lockdown.
“An all-out war requires the entire country to be locked down, and this is what many European nations have already done, and more countries are expected to follow suit.
“The global outbreak of the Covid-19 has reached a scale where nations have to take bold and drastic measures,” said Tan in a statement on Monday (March 16).
Tan said a lockdown should provide sufficient notice and be clearly spelt out, and not perceived as 24-hour curfew, which will result in panic buying and hoarding.
Tan said mechanisms must also be in place to reduce unnecessary hardships to the rakyat, as well as remaining tourists still holidaying in Malaysia.
He, however, concluded that there is “little left to salvage” for the tourism industry.
“It would be better to press the reset button and start all over again on a clean slate by placing hygiene, safety and security as top priorities and restore confidence for holiday makers.”
“When our country is all set, Malaysia will be recognised as one of the safest destinations to visit and Malaysians too would be welcomed in many countries when the situation normalises.
“For countries that are proactive in dealing with this crisis, tourism may rebound as fast as it had plunged, while others that take piecemeal actions will somewhat find it difficult to rebound,” he said.
Tan also said MATTA will defer its MATTA fairs scheduled in Kuala Lumpur and in various states until the situation returns to normalcy.
This would include the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia that was supposed to be held on April 4th and 5th, as well as the MATTA Fair Kuala Lumpur from May 1-3.
Tan said the Malaysia Travel Fair held recently at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre last weekend was organised by a different association registered as Persatuan Agensi Pelancongan Malaysia, or Malaysia Association Tour Agency (MATA).
“It has nothing to do with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) or MATTA Fairs”, said Tan.