KUALA LUMPUR – Nine civil society organisations have taken matters into their own hands, forming the Pelan Bertindak Rakyat (Tindak) coalition to urge Putrajaya to immediately implement effective policies in the battle against Covid-19.
Nathaniel Tan of Projek #BangsaMalaysia said Tindak will fully support emergency action plans that have been or will be written by independent policy experts, especially those on health and the economy.
He cited the Health Emergency Action Plan (HEAP) published this morning by a group of health experts, namely Datuk Dr Amar Singh HSS, Dr Khor Swee Kheng, Prof Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman and Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar.
The plan stresses three guiding principles: trust based on transparency, an all-of-society approach, and having solutions that are not lockdown-based.
“We believe government policies should be based on data and science, and we believe in listening to experts,” said Tan at the launch of the coalition via a virtual press conference today.
“Therefore, we are in full support of HEAP. They have very clear, actionable steps. They are not vague or need weeks of study before implementation.
“These are steps that can be implemented now, before we see a total collapse of the health system, especially in the Klang Valley.”
Tindak comprises Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia, Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia, Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM), Projek #BangsaMalaysia, Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas, Projek Wawasan Rakyat, Undi18, Komrad Borneo and Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia.
Datuk Tan Yew Sing of GBM likened the pandemic to a war, and urged the government not to underestimate the consequences of the twin health and economic crises.
As the prime minister has said, the nation’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. We must really salute and appreciate our frontliners, but it doesn’t seem like they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now is the time to mobilise manpower to give them moral and physical support.
“This is a war situation; don’t underestimate the consequences. If it’s out of control, everyone will suffer.”
Tan said the coalition will study the emergency action plans and propose a list of key actionable demands this week.
“While we do not condone panic or undue alarm, the authorities do not seem to be taking the magnitude of the problem we are facing nearly seriously enough.
If they will not act on high alert, then the rakyat will put them on high alert.”
He said failure to implement effective policies will result in more deaths and infections, as well as increased hunger and extreme economic hardship.
Tindak’s primary concern is to ensure the people’s voices are heard loud and clear, especially those of frontliners, he said.
“We clearly need a whole-of-society approach, and we must recognise our shared responsibility to drive bottom-up leadership.
“If the authorities continue to act too slowly, we will organise protests that do not involve mass gatherings, given the Covid-19 restrictions, to pressure the relevant parties to urgently implement the demands.” – The Vibes, July 19, 2021
