Safety should be a cherished personal value, practised by everyone, says Lee Lam Thye

PETALING JAYA: Safety should be regarded as a cherished personal value that must be practised by everyone as it affects everyone's lives, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

The Alliance for Safe Community chairman added that safety is not merely about rules or regulations and procedures.

He said it is a serious matter that affects life and death.

"It is about the prevention of fatal diseases or accidents that can kill or destroy the livelihood of the victims and their family members.

"The real impact of diseases such as Covid-19 is better understood by the unfortunate victims and their family members.

"For family members who have lost their loved ones, their lives will never be the same again.

"The real challenge for our community today is to impress upon everyone the real impact that Covid-19 causes to human lives and the need for everything possible to be done for its prevention.

"This is why community empowerment is so important to guide, advise and help one another to combat Covid-19," he said in a statement.

Lee said when everyone in the community shares responsibility for safety and health, the community is assured of its best protection.

On combating Covid-19, Lee said no amount of effort by the health authorities and frontliners can help if the community is not prepared to empower itself to ensure the health and safety of the community.

This, he added, can be achieved through community outreach educational programmes organised by various government agencies, professional bodies and non-government organisations.

The educational programmes should be targeted not just to the working population but to the elderly, the housewives, hawkers, shopkeepers and especially, young children.

A community that is well informed and educated about safety will naturally be one where the members of the community value and practise safety as a way of life.

"Safety is for everyone. Preventing harm to yourself, your family, your friends and your community gives you greater peace of mind. Let’s work together to get this important message across in our fight against Covid-19," he added.