Sin Chew Daily

Many Malaysians don't seem to understand the real purpose of the movement control order.

The media have kept reminding the public in absolutely simple language on the most prominent pages that we all must stay at home and not to go outside or attend any form of gathering or jog, unless there is an urgent need to do so, in order to minimize the risk of cross infection.

Unfortunately many choose to ignore the order.

On the eve of the enforcement of movement control order, many Malaysians rushed to go back to their respective hometowns, clogging our highways, thinking it was a rare opportunity to celebrate with families in kampung for the next two weeks. Of course, it is excusable if someone has to travel outstation to attend to any urgent matters.

We have good reasons to believe that more have made the impromptu journeys to their hometowns or travel outstation for holidays, taking advantage of the 14-day no-work period. Sadly these people have very pathetic levels of crisis awareness. They think they are healthy enough not to catch the virus without realizing that the additional road traffic could significantly boost viral spread.

If the virus reaches smaller towns with inadequate medical facilities and resources, they will not be able to cope with the outbreak. So, don't take things for granted and please spare some thought for our loved ones at home, in particular the aged. Selfish acts are a no-no during such a critical moment.

Immigration checkpoints in Johor and northern Malaysia were packed with people rushing to leave the country before midnight. The sudden influx of people is a huge boost for viral spread. Who knows the virus will even get exported to our neighboring countries.

Initially, under the movement control order, anyone intending to travel out of the state would need to get prior permission from the police. After the announcement was made, police stations nationwide saw massive queues. However, the IGP later hurriedly canceled the requirement.

Lack of proper planning is the source of confusion. such  measures should have been planned well ahead of the announcement of the movement control order in a bid to avoid widespread confusion and panic.

And on the first day of the movement control order, there were stubborn customers gathering at restaurants for breakfast and leisurely chats, despite the fact eateries had been instructed not to provide dine-in facilities for their customers, allowing only takeaway and delivery services. Among the violators spotted eating at restaurants and coffee shops were elderlies and children belonging to the high-risk groups. They didn't seem to bother about the tremendous dangers of this virus.

As many people had opted to ignore the order, the health ministry subsequently ruled that members of the public are not allowed to move around freely, save for specific reasons such as buying food or seeking medical assistance, under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the local Infected Areas) Regulations 2020. Those who must travel out of the state will need to get a permit from the police beforehand. So please, treat this new regulation with respect and seriousness, and just STAY HOME.

Bear in mind that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country is rising steadily and we already have reported two coronavirus-related deaths so far. We cannot afford to trifle with this outbreak.

Well, the movement control order will only last for two weeks given the 14-day latent period of the virus. So, please cooperate with the authorities in tracking down infected individuals.

Take Italy — the worst hit country in Europe — for instance, when the government imposed travel restrictions and banned gatherings for the sake of the country, many Italians squeezed into trains leaving the locked-down areas to the rest of the country. The lockdown policy does not work because the number of confirmed cases is still rising steeply in Italy, forcing the government to declare a state of emergency.

A lesson we can learn from Italy is that even the strictest control measures will be useless without the full cooperation from the public, and the entire operation to fight the virus will fail very badly.

More worryingly, we are in the midst of an extremely tough and protracted war, and the ensuing costs and financial losses could be unimaginable.