Disclaimer : The images used in the accompanying text are drawn from the social media. Some may be considered inappropriate and for that, I offer my sincere apologies. That said, we are living in trying times.
Its Day 5 of the MCO today. The MCO, short for the Movement Control Order, is the Malaysian version of the Lockdown that was or is imposed by some countries affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in China and Europe, in their efforts to combat and bring the pandemic under control.
The MCO, which has been in placed since the 18th until the 31st of March, basically requires us Malaysians to practice social distancing (but of course), good personal hygiene (like washing your hands the prescribed way), and self quarantine.
In basic words, stay home, do not go out unless absolutely and utterly necessary (and that does not include going to your favourite watering hole) and avoid all mass and social gatherings. All these in the effort to stop the Covid-19 virus from spreading itself around.
Well, thus far, the MCO is going just fine despite the initial hiccups. Thats normal for the par, I’d say. After all, you don’t get a pandemic everyday of the year, do you?
Nevertheless, there have been reports of pockets of sheer lunacy or idiocy, depending on how you look at it, in and around the country, where the MCO has been totally ignored either through sheer ignorance or sheer stupidity.
At the time of writing, there has been a reported 1,500 plus positive cases and fourteen (14) reported deaths attributed to Covid-19. This is an increase from 1,300 plus positive cases and ten (10) reported deaths the day before.
Not as bad as China, Italy, Spain, or Iran for that matter, where the numbers who have tested positive and who have died from the pandemic number in the thousands, but for us Malaysians, it is still 1,500 plus and fourteen TOO many.
It is definitely not the end of the story just yet, for we have been told to brace for the next wave and even worse, the one after that.
From all accounts, there are lessons being or to be learnt from this pandemic. But what is disturbing to learn are reports that lessons learnt from the last pandemic to have hit the nation ie SARS (if I am not mistaken), were ignored this time round, for political reasons.
To many and myself included, if that is the case, the political leaders behind that decision are guilty of gross negligence, of callousness and of recklessness, especially when it concerns the well being of the rakyat.
Already making the rounds in social media, are the statements and videos attributed to these political leaders, to remind them of what they had uttered when concerns were voiced when the virus was still known as Corona Virus.
The message is simple : ‘This is what you said back then’.
What the people are saying in this powerful age of social media, we remembered what you said back then and so, if you have nothing good to say or to contribute to the effort to curb the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic, get off your high horse, shut your trap and let the government of the day get down to work.
The time to get political again will come soon enough. When that day comes, we the people shall decide. Lest the politicians forget.
In the meantime, it has just been five days and being cooped up in your own home does take its toll on you. It would not be a surprise if all forms of social media are very active at the moment. Just to kill the boredom, one would say.
As it is, lots of advice, analyses and comments being forwarded from one social media account to another. In fact, its becoming a must to allocate some time to clean up the handphone memory. After all space is not unlimited.
With regards to the postings, most of these postings are informative in nature and are meant to educate. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones making the rounds. They are irresponsible ones as well, and in equal measure.
False information? Fake news? That’s a no-brainer. Whats worse though are the efforts by some parties to score political points during these trying times. Some of the postings remind you of the days prior to the general elections, PRU14.
But I got admit, during these trying times, people can get very creative, with the aim to uplift the people’s spirits, and bring a smile or two, laughter even, to the people reading these posts, drawing references to popular movies, events etc.
One of my favourites has to be that of Thor, a member of the Avengers and the Norse God of Thunder.
Bearing in mind, our MCO is effective from the 18th to the 31st of March, someone got creative with the Norse God of Thunder.
Loki, that Norse God of Mischief would have been proud.
But then again, some of us do not have to wait til 31st March.
Just to show how effective the MCO had been due to the stay-at-home self quarantine, another creative one was making the rounds amongst on the Malaysian public.
Admittedly, some of us men do not know the differences between a celery and a carrot or between a white pomfret and a black pomfret.
But to be fair, in this day and age of equality, the same can be said of the fairer sex.
Another alluded to the Baby Boom that would have followed after the MCO. Naturally. But to be termed The Coronials, I am not so sure the this group of baby boomers would appreciate that.
As in any pandemic, the true face of us humans are being exposed for what we truly and really are. My hope is that we will do ourselves justice.
I would also hope and pray we will all see 31st March in good health. I would hate to think otherwise. A prayer or two would not hurt either.
Stay safe and for goodness sake, refrain from being a Covidiot.
