A new norm needed to fight Covid-19 – P Gunasegaram

‘It’s a dire situation that needs to be handled now through concrete measures instead of repeated platitudes of how we are pressing forward with vaccinations after that late start, for which the only satisfying explanation we have is that vaccine supply was limited then.

‘On the health front, the numbers are going to rise further given the high infectivity rate and the inefficacy of lockdowns – so give the resources needed to hospitals. Extra beds, field hospitals, enlisting the help of private hospitals, changing public facilities to temporary health facilities, increasing the number of ventilators, etc.

‘All the powers are at the disposal of authorities, not just because of the emergency, but under long-standing health laws that have been in the statute books for decades. Use them judiciously but do not be afraid to make bold moves if that is what is necessary.’

Read here (The Vibes, July 20, 2021)

Fake news law is government’s attempt to silence voice of every citizen — National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia

‘The National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia (NUJM) expresses its grave concern over the  government’s move to gazette an ordinance purportedly to combat “fake news” relating to Covid-19 or  the Emergency proclamation. NUJ Malaysia is not agreeing to this kind of step backwards action taken as it seems like the ruling  government is trying to silent the voice of every citizen regardless of their race, religion or various  background.

‘We called on the government’s plan of setting up the Media Council to be revived and accelerate just to tackle any issues regarding to media practitioners especially journalists who are in the frontline. The union is in the view that Media Council can also be in charge of looking into the alleged fake news crime committed instead of the government having to gazette new laws to tackles this. This in turn will  display transparency over the alleged crime committed.’

Read here (Malay Mail, Mar 12, 2021)

Bar council slams ‘disturbing’ new fake news law

‘The latest clampdown on fake news comes as a shock for lawyers, with Bar Council president Salim Bashir describing the powers the government has given itself to clamp down on such news as “disturbing”. Speaking to FMT, he also said the “imprecise definition” of fake news that includes anything related to Covid-19 and the proclamation of emergency, was “worrisome.”

‘Gazetted today, the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021 penalises those who create, publish or distribute fake news with a fine of up to RM100,000, a jail term of up to three years or both. If they fail to apologise after being ordered to do so by the court, they can be fined an additional RM50,000, and those who pay to “create” such news can be fined up to RM500,000. All fines come with jail terms as well.’

Read here (Free Malaysia Today, Mar 12, 2021)

The new normal (Phase 2)

‘So, we’re almost a year into the “New Normal” (a/k/a “pathologized totalitarianism”) and things are still looking … well, pretty totalitarian. Most of Western Europe is still in “lockdown,” or “under curfew,” or in some other state of “health emergency.” Police are fining and arresting people for “being outdoors without a valid reason.”  Protest is still banned. Dissent is still censored.

‘The official propaganda is relentless. Governments are ruling by edict, subjecting people to an ever-changing series of increasingly absurd restrictions of the most fundamental aspects of everyday life.

‘And now, the campaign to “vaccinate” the entirety of humanity against a virus that causes mild to moderate flu-like symptoms or, more commonly, no symptoms at all, in over 95% of those infected, and that over 99% of the infected survive (and that has no real effect on age-adjusted death rates, and the mortality profile of which is more or less identical to the normal mortality profile) is being waged with literally religious fervor.

“Vaccine passports” (which are definitely creepy, but which bear no resemblance to Aryan Ancestry Certificates, or any other fascistic apartheid-type documents, so don’t even think about making such a comparison!) are in the pipeline in a number of countries. They have already been rolled out in Israel.’

Read here (OffGuardian, Mar 9, 2020)

Malaysia enforces requirement for improved worker lodging to rein in Covid-19

‘Malaysia has gazetted an emergency ordinance compelling employers to provide lodging with sufficient living space and amenities for migrant workers to effectively control the spread of Covid-19, the Human Resources Ministry said on Thursday (Feb 18).

‘It is among the first emergency ordinances - laws that do not require prior parliamentary approval - to be enforced since a national emergency was declared on Jan 12 to curb the coronavirus spread.

‘Covid-19 infections in Malaysia have raged among migrant workers who typically work and live closely, with an outbreak at world's largest glove maker Top Glove becoming the largest cluster in the country in December after more than 5,000 workers were infected.’

Read here (Straits Times, Feb 18, 2021)

Private practitioners welcome govt roping in GPs to monitor Covid-19, call for guidance

‘The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Association (FPMPAM) has welcomed the government’s upcoming move to task private general practitioners (GPs) with monitoring some Covid-19 patients. However, it called for more guidance for the GPs. 

‘Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said yesterday that the cabinet had agreed to amend the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 to empower private GPs to issue home quarantine orders.

‘The Malay Mail quoted him as saying such orders can be issued without the need of a positive test result if a patient displays Covid-19 symptoms or is suspected to have the virus. GPs will also be equipped with an unspecified device that can help identify Covid-19 patients, he added.’

Read here (Malaysiakini, Jan 31, 2021)

Concerned doctors' open letter to Muhyiddin gets a personal response (Full text included)

‘An open letter by a group of 46 doctors has elicited a personal response from Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. The 46 doctors had, in an open letter on Jan 7, expressed worry at the "very bleak" state of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

‘Muhyiddin, in his response tonight, noted that several of their proposals have been implemented or are in the process of being rolled out. The prime minister said he will continue to put aside politics and focus on mobilising an all-of-society fight against Covid-19.’

Read here (Malaysiakini, Jan 17, 2021)

Emergency ordinance gives Muhyiddin carte blanche – P Gunasegaram

‘The Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance, already in effect from January 11, gives unfettered powers to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in the name of the king, going far beyond what is required to control the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘It provides numerous avenues for a substantial abuse of power, without any checks and balances whatsoever, including the power to appoint a committee that could potentially extend the life of the emergency, and the power to temporarily seize land, building and movable property, and unilaterally decide the compensation for this.’

Read here (The Vibes, Jan 15, 2021)

Why use emergency when we freely offered help? Asks medical group

‘Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib said the proclamation of an emergency appeared to involve harnessing the resources of the private sector, based on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s speech on Tuesday. He said this could mean some private hospitals and medical facilities being requisitioned to increase the public health sector’s capacity for intensive care, beds and specialised personnel.

‘However, he told FMT that private healthcare stakeholders, particularly hospitals, had been trying to get some form of a public-private operational framework for Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 cooperation and funding since early 2020. “However, there has been limited movement on this issue. The latest decision must come as a shock, as the government seems to want to use emergency legislation to get what was willingly offered,” he said.’

Read here (Free Malaysia Today, Jan 14, 2021)

Emergency: Minister says govt benefits from more power to manage Covid-19

‘Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has defended the government’s use of the national emergency, saying it allows Putrajaya additional powers it can use to better manage the Covid-19 pandemic. Such powers include fining private hospitals up to RM5 million for refusing government requests.

‘Provided the Yang di-Pertuan Agong assents to the relevant ordinances, Ismail said the state of emergency also accords the army “the same powers” as the police. “Like now, the army can arrest undocumented workers. They can take direct action by arresting them and putting them in a lock-up.’

Read here (Malaysiakini, Jan 14, 2021)

Military gets emergency power to detain MCO offenders

‘Officers and personnel of the Malaysian armed forces now have the power to detain and take action against those found violating the movement control order, senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today. He said that the Emergency Ordinance provides similar authority to the police and military, which would help efforts to manage the Covid-19 crisis better.

“If previously the armed forces could only take action if there was border intrusion, now they can detain suspects for further action without the presence of police,” he said at his daily media briefing.’

Read here (Free Malaysia Today, Jan 14, 2021) 

Covid-19: Thank you, Agong, for declaring national state of Emergency — Malaysian Medical Association

‘The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) wishes to thank His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for declaring a national state of Emergency to bring the Covid-19 situation in the country under control.

‘We also support the government’s decision to implement the second MCO in six states — most affected by the surge in cases of Covid-19, the CMCO in six other states and the RMCO in Perlis and Sarawak. MMA will provide support in any way it can to assist the Health Ministry and the government manage the Covid-19 situation in the country. We urge the public to give their full support by fully adhering to the MCO’s SOPs that will be announced this evening.

‘A second MCO is indeed necessary as cases of Covid-19 have been consistently on the rise with no sign of improvement. There is also spread in the community and the infection rate has not come down from the current RO of between 1.1 and 1.2. There is also concern over the B117 Covid-19 strain known as the UK strain that has been detected in the country...’

Read here (Malay Mail, Jan 12, 2021)