Finding an ultimate vaccine to fight the mutating “emperor” virus

‘We are commenting on the shocking CNN website report (March 2), headlined “All our recent progress with COVID-19 could be wiped out by variants, CDC director says”. The first two paragraphs (below) are enough to sum up the CNN report: “The US is at risk of losing all its recent gains in the battle against COVID-19 as highly contagious variants take advantage of Americans getting lax with safety measures... “Please hear me clearly: At this level of cases with variants spreading, we stand to completely lose the hard-earned ground we have gained,” said Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the US centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”...

‘With new variants, serious doubts are suggested by the CNN report on whether this “vaccine” [mRNA], the first in the global market, would work, even if safety factor is put aside. Nevertheless, there are safe and workable vaccines, using tried and tested technologies like using inactivated or attenuated virus from nature to stimulate the body to produce anti-body response. Even the adenovirus viral vector technology, tried and tested for Ebola, appears to be safer than mRNA.

‘There are also safe and good alternatives, like the anti-viral “broad spectrum” drug Ivermectin, which can destroy the new variants. In the meantime, it is vital that we improve our body immunity against COVID-19 by taking Vitamin C with zinc, Vitamin D, minerals and trace elements needed, explore proven traditional and complimentary medicines, and maintain established standard operating procedures (SOPs) of physical distancing, wearing surgical masks and personal hygiene in public places.’

Read here (Focus Malaysia, Mar 4, 2021)

Covid-19 vaccine: Hold your horses, let us play safe! Jeyakumar Devaraj

• Malaysia should rely on old tech vaccines comprise of viral proteins. Let us not experiment on our population with the “sophisticated” vaccines that use RNA and DNA technology.
• Offer the old tech COVID-19 vaccines to the high risk groups initially, and then later to the entire population. But do not make it mandatory for any particular group. Let people make an informed choice.
• Provide clear information to the public. We should be honest with our people. The authorities should also tell the people that at present we do not have data regarding long term safety of the RNA and DNA vaccines.
• Provide the old tech COVID-19 vaccine free to the population.
• Conduct post COVID-19 vaccination surveillance to obtain an accurate estimate of side effects arising from the vaccines.
• It is high time for civil society groups and concerned individuals to voice up and urge for a cautious and measured approach to the mass vaccination of the Malaysian public.

Read here (Focus Malaysia, Dec 24, 2020)

We need a Covid-19 law right now

‘When I am asked what businesses need from a legal perspective in this Covid crisis, I come up with a critical minimum list of three, for our local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). First, breathing space to earn income and turn around a cash flow deficit to meet debts. This translates into: (a) freezing of demands for payment, and (b) freezing of legal actions... Second, protection from eviction from business premises, and repossession of machinery, equipment and assets that are essential to generating revenue, for a similar period of time. This is fundamental to SMEs’ ability to carry on business as a going concern... The third measure required is then, assistance with the restructuring of debts.’

Read here (FocusMalaysia, May 9, 2020)

Govt needs a U-turn on conditional MCO

‘Yes, it is conditional, but it is physically impossible to ensure everyone complies. You need to give businesses more time to prepare for this, especially the smaller businesses – the small and medium enterprises or SMEs which employ about 70% of workers.

‘This is where infection is most likely – the most number of people are there and the ones most likely to ignore SOPs. They include all sorts of businesses – food and beverage, services, shops, workplaces – virtually all can reopen except for those that involve close contact and mass gatherings.’

Read here (FocusMalaysia, May 4, 2020)

MCO and the failure to follow the rule of law

‘We are now told that we can go back to work on Monday by no less than the PM himself.  The National Security Council has issued SOP’s for businesses to open. MITI also appears to be approving the opening of businesses on terms imposed by them.

‘All this in the face of existing PCID-MILA Regulations and the provisions of the PCIDA which expressly confers power only upon the Minister of Health to formulate and enforce regulations relating to activities and movement in infected areas. And so, the confusion and uncertainties continue whilst little is known of what the Ministry of Health has to say about all this.’

Read here (FocusMalaysia, May 3, 2020)

Three major concerns over Covid-19 and the MCO

‘Despite the overall good efforts by the government... there are three concerns at least which need to be addressed by this government to the satisfaction of the public.

1. One, there are excessive detentions following the movement control order or MCO which has raised legitimate concerns over police highhandedness, extreme sentencing, and the possibility of actually exacerbating Covid-19 instead of controlling it.
2. Two, the limited 1-day sitting of Parliament, in name only, on May 18 does not allow Parliamentary sanction, legitimacy and debate of the moves taken by the new backdoor government.
3. And three, this shortened parliamentary session raises issues over the lack of legitimacy of moves taken and the inability to raise more funds to deal with the economic effects of the pandemic.’

Read here (FocusMalaysia, April 30, 2020)

Health and economy will suffer if MCO lifted too soon

‘Noor Hisham is straight forward about what is required to lift the MCO – six conditions to be fulfilled of which three have already been satisfied. The Academy of Medicine Malaysia concurs with him...

‘Detailed guidelines for a return to the workplace are necessary as well as the readiness of both employers and employees to abide by them. If, for instance, it is a crowded workplace, social distancing of a minimum one metre will be impossible to achieve unless, say only half the workforce or less, goes to work. As many people as possible still need to work from home...

‘Premature lifting of the lockdown can be disastrous. Let us spend some thought and effort into deciding what the new norm is, set clear unambiguous guidelines by professionals with no political doublespeak, announce them, and wait for feedback before implementation.’

Read here (FocusMalaysia, April 28, 2020)

Of haircuts, MITI website crashes and living with Covid-19

‘I really, really wish our backdoor ministers postpone their ambitions to exert the power in their hands to do things and instead seek the counsel of experienced and knowledgeable civil servants in their ministries before opening their mouths and coming up with ridiculous suggestions. It would not only save money but human lives in the current dire environment.’

Read here (Focus Malaysia, April 13, 2020)

Covid-19 package: The woes of a small business owner

‘There is a saying, “Give a man a fish and you can feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. So help small businesses stay afloat.

‘Revenues are down. Margins, if any are non existent. Wages, rentals and raw material are the three main costs of business. Government assistance is needed to subsidise one part of the expense to keep Malaysians employed.

‘We have been told that we are fighting a war with an invisible enemy. We issue a one-off  “Coronavirus War Bond” to fund this fight to keep jobs. It will break the budget deficit ceilings. What alternative do we have?’

Read here (FocusMalaysia, March 29, 2020)