Covid-19: Strictly follow SOP to fight pandemic, Lam Thye tells M’sians

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians have been urged to strictly abide by the standard operating procedures (SOP) and other rules in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said following the SOP will ensure that the Emergency period will not remain a day more than necessary.

“Self-discipline and strict compliance with all SOP are very crucial at this stage to enable us to break the chain of infection in the community, ” he said in a statement Saturday (Jan 30).

Lee said Malaysians had previously faced three emergency periods which were overcome with pragmatic policies, dedicated efforts and enlightened foresight.

“These three periods are the Emergency to contain the communist terrorist threat (1948-1960); the May 13 race riots of 1969, and the Confrontation with Indonesia during the formation of Malaysia (1963 till 1966), ” he said.

“Now we are facing another Emergency, primarily caused by the threat posed by Covid-19, ” he said.

On Friday (Jan 29), the number of infections exceeded 5,000 for the first time and the government had warned that daily cases could reach 8,000 a day in six weeks or so.

He said the brunt of the first Emergency was borne by the police and the armed forces; the second by political leaders; and the third by the armed forces.

Lee said the current Emergency directly involves everybody - citizens, guest workers, young, old, the active and the infirm.

He said, therefore, everyone must do their part to fight the pandemic.

The alternative is not an alternative, he said, adding the consequences can be tragic even if one person or a group of people do not play their part.

“Make no mistake, we are facing the biggest threat to our existence. The rest of the world is also not spared, ” he said.

Lee said now is not the time to expend our time and energies in the pursuit of agendas that are not crucial for our survival.

He said a lesson can be taken from the previous World Wars.

When there was a danger of an impending attack, air raid sirens would go off, and the people would run to underground shelters, he said.

“Nowadays, when there are signs of a surge in the virus attack, many people are complacent, and do not take cover as they should, ” Lee said.

He said those who flout the SOP are putting their lives in danger and also the lives of their loved ones, their friends, their neighbours, and the general public at risk.

He said Malaysians were resolute and followed all SOP under the first movement control order in March last year when the threat was not as serious as it is now.

“And we successfully flattened the curve. If we could do it before, we certainly can do so now when the stakes are so much higher, ” Lee said.