KUCHING, July 9: The length of business operating hours is not a contributing factor when it comes to the spread of Covid-19, but the manner in which standard operating procedures (SOPs) are being adhered to.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said the spread of the virus is determined by the workers’ behaviour while at work, whether they follow strict SOPs and whether their employers impose strict SOPs for factories.
As for businesses, the adherence to the SOPs by business owners and their customers is the determining factor on whether or not there will be a Covid-19 outbreak, opined Masing.
“This length of opening hours must also apply to banks. Malaysian banks are now instructed to shorten their banking hours, for whatever reason.
“Silly, I say. It is not the length of working hours in which Covid-19 thrives. It is the crowded places and congestion, which Covid-19 loves most.
“In order to reduce congestion, lengthen the banks’ operating hours. Let’s say from 8am to 8pm during the pandemic. It will cost extra money for the banks, but what choice do we have? Everyone must contribute to the cost to fight this pandemic. With lengthened working hours, customers need not rush to do their banking,” said Masing in a statement today.
He said this was an unprecedented time, which therefore requires unprecedented measures.
The objectives to contain Covid-19, he said, was to keep our people alive and businesses to continuously functioning.
“What we are doing now (except for vaccination) are all wrong. The introduction of MCO (Movement Control Order) kills businesses. The consequences of shutting businesses is that people are unemployed, so they can’t make money. No money, no food. No ‘makan’ (eating). Simple logic,” he said.
Masing who is also Baleh Assemblyman said MCO was the correct approach at the beginning of the pandemic to stop the spread but the strategy should change now with the availability of vaccines.
“Now that we have the vaccines, why keep on ‘circling the wagons’? Go straight and ‘inject the wagons’ with vaccines. We have been ‘pussyfooting’ around for months since the vaccine was discovered last year.
“Now we should focus on the vaccines and try to achieve at least 80 to 90 per cent herd immunity. While we vaccinate our people, let us slowly open the factories, businesses entities and shops. Normalcy will return to our lives.
“For the above suggestions to work, leaders must think, listen and focus, and then implement the system without fear or favour. Finally, politicians must stand as one because Malaysia is under deadly attack by Covid-19. Losing this battle is not an option for us,” said Masing who is also Infrastructure and Port Development Minister. — DayakDaily
