GEORGE TOWN – The return of strict movement restrictions is a possibility that Malaysians must come to accept, said DAP parliamentarians, as the fresh surge in Covid-19 cases is due to complacency in observing health and safety standard operating procedures.
Despite the majority of new infections being contained in two prisons, one each in Kedah and Sabah, the coronavirus is spreading in the community, said Klang MP Charles Santiago.
“Every day, we are getting reports of infections in shopping malls, banks, schools and government departments, and not to mention among the front-line spheres of police and medical personnel.
“It (Covid-19) is in the community.”
He said the caseload will stay high if the public continues to disobey the rules, adding that those who are close contacts of patients must be responsible and self-isolate.
There is no need to keep reminding people to observe physical distancing, wear masks and frequently wash their hands or use sanitiser, as these should already be a habit, he said.
He urged the government to take a strict approach, saying a robust economy depends on good public health.
“Health comes first. If that is not secured, we cannot grow the economy. If we take care of our health, the economy will take care of itself.”
Jelutong’s R.S.N. Rayer, meanwhile, said the courts should decide bailable cases immediately so as to reduce prison population numbers.
“We know that our prisons, like in many other countries, are overcrowded, and they have become a flashpoint for the third wave of infections.”
He said the backlog of cases concerning minor crimes should be cleared, and that police and prison officials should review the standard operating procedures on prisoners’ court appearance and in jails. – The Vibes, October 8, 2020
