A YEAR ago, I was known as Patient #33 as I was among the earliest Covid-19 patients of the Kayangan cluster. The virus was very new then in Malaysia.
There was not even a test kit to tell if one was infected. That was what happened on February 25 and 29 last year when I felt unwell and went twice to the neighbourhood clinic to seek treatment for a very bad fever I was experiencing then. The clinic dismissed my requests for Covid-19 testing because there were not any then.
After the chairman of a government-linked company whom I came into contact with was hospitalised, I was confirmed positive and was quarantined at Sg Buloh Hospital with my wife for 13 days. While in hospital, I was captivated by the sacrifices of our frontliners and wrote an anonymous article – “Thank you from #33”, published by some news portal then.
After my discharge from the hospital, I became passionate about supporting all initiatives to fight Covid-19. I raised funds for PPE equipment and donated my blood plasma in an antibody research programme.
I did whatever I could as a patriotic citizen to support the KitaJagaKita campaign. I supported the government's introduction of the movement control order, which was very effective to control the second wave, and Malaysia was spared from the third wave.
The success in flattening the curve allowed the government’s focus to shift from saving lives to saving livelihoods. By then, the country’s economy had been badly battered just like the economies of other countries.
Today, we are supposed to be at the phase of making economic recovery, but as we always are, we became complacent and started to neglect the standard operating procedures the government had carefully oriented us to accept as our new norm.
We didn’t only forget. In fact, we breached many of the rules that had kept us safe. Some of us were so irresponsible as to glamourise these breaches on social media while complaining of frivolous things. Everything became so politicised.
The latest to be politicised is the vaccination programme. Fake news were made viral, inciting and inflaming people’s emotions. And many people refused or failed to register for vaccination. That’s how we are as Malaysians. We forget easily.
The world is now facing the fourth wave of a grim and more virulent mutated strain of the virus. The rate of infection is alarming across the globe.
Yesterday, Malaysia hit a record high of 6,806 infections and 59 deaths. Yet, many are still indifferent to the need to register for vaccination. Some outrightly disbelieved the Health Ministry, dismissing statistics as mere propaganda to justify prolonging the emergency.
Perhaps the presentation of cold hard statistics did not sink in among Malaysians. Two nights ago, a very good documentary was televised by Majalah 3, now available on YouTube.
Hopefully, this can spread awareness, especially among those still hesitant over change in behaviour and getting vaccinated
If anyone should feel a sense of immunity, it would be an ex-Covid-19 patient like me. Yet, I don’t. I registered for vaccination in March via MySejahtera.
A few days ago, I received notification from the MySejahtera app on my smartphone to be present at WTC KL this morning for my turn to be vaccinated.
Dutifully I turned up with my wife 30 minutes before our appointed time. What I saw and experienced this morning left me in awe of our frontliners. From police personnel who controlled traffic to the Rela officers at the car park and the volunteers and medical staff, they worked with such beautiful coordination almost seamlessly to receive, register, and administer the vaccine with such wonderful efficiency – something rare with us Malaysians.
The volunteers and medical staff comprised various races, cultures and religions working together to serve selflessly. It showed the diversity of our Malaysian society. I felt overwhelmed that we Malaysians have the capability and capacity to care for one another when it matters most.
So to those who have yet to register, to those who do not want to be vaccinated, I ask you to think not only of yourselves but of other Malaysians who are exposed to the dangers you pose to them by your obstinacy. My request to you, do not be selfish. Get vaccinated! – The Vibes, May 21, 2021
