PETALING JAYA: The new prompt on the Selangkah app requiring users to report if people are not wearing face masks is a survey to gauge public compliance with the government’s standard operating procedure (SOP), says Selangor Covid-19 task force council head Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. The former health minister added that the state government was running the survey to gauge public compliance – not only on face mask wearing but also on other SOP such as social distancing, sanitiser use and crowding situation.
“The purpose of the survey is meant to study the aspect of KAP – Knowledge, Attitude and Practice – of the citizenry in public health.
“Channelling the survey through Selangkah is what makes it novel, sophisticated, rapid and real time – simply put, a step ahead,” he said yesterday.
A prompt now appears in the app when users scan a QR code as they enter a shop.
It asks the question “How many people do you see not wearing a mask here?” and gives users three options to select from: zero up to four, or more than five people not wearing masks at their location.
Selangkah, which was first rolled out on May 4, was built as a measure to monitor the spread of Covid-19 during the movement control order period.
However, Dr Dzulkefly said it was difficult to determine if the survey would encourage more people to wear a face mask.
“If I may speculate, some agencies are looking at mandatory mask wear to be put under an Act so that it can be enforced under the jurisdiction of law.
“This definitely has its own merit, although it must be framed correctly as not to be punitive.
“Selangkah and Selangor, especially, are seeking to complement and perhaps provide an alternative by using another approach of ‘positive reinforcement’ and ‘remind and look out for each other’,” he said.
Dr Dzulkefly added that they were looking to reward and provide incentives to those who complied in the hopes that it would propagate and encourage good behavioural change.
“I believe that we can encourage them through care rather than the cane,” he added.
“The purpose of the survey is meant to study the aspect of KAP – Knowledge, Attitude and Practice – of the citizenry in public health.
“Channelling the survey through Selangkah is what makes it novel, sophisticated, rapid and real time – simply put, a step ahead,” he said yesterday.
A prompt now appears in the app when users scan a QR code as they enter a shop.
It asks the question “How many people do you see not wearing a mask here?” and gives users three options to select from: zero up to four, or more than five people not wearing masks at their location.
Selangkah, which was first rolled out on May 4, was built as a measure to monitor the spread of Covid-19 during the movement control order period.
However, Dr Dzulkefly said it was difficult to determine if the survey would encourage more people to wear a face mask.
“If I may speculate, some agencies are looking at mandatory mask wear to be put under an Act so that it can be enforced under the jurisdiction of law.
“This definitely has its own merit, although it must be framed correctly as not to be punitive.
“Selangkah and Selangor, especially, are seeking to complement and perhaps provide an alternative by using another approach of ‘positive reinforcement’ and ‘remind and look out for each other’,” he said.
Dr Dzulkefly added that they were looking to reward and provide incentives to those who complied in the hopes that it would propagate and encourage good behavioural change.
“I believe that we can encourage them through care rather than the cane,” he added.
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