Enjoy, but follow SOP at all times

Malaysians and foreigners alike must still adhere to the Covid-19 SOP whether we like it or not.

IF our leaders themselves do not follow the standard operating procedures (SOP), it doesn’t make sense to expect the man on the street to do so.

Recent videos of political gatherings have surfaced showing a blatant disregard for physical distancing rules. Even if these gatherings are government-related, the authorities must enforce the rules.

The RM10,000 fine slapped on Barisan Nasional for holding a mass gathering at the launch of the coalition’s election machinery for the Melaka state polls is a case in point.

The Melaka election will be without the usual fanfare of ceramah and mass rallies, as the Health Ministry has banned all political gatherings in the state due to Covid-19 safety concerns.

This ban on election-related gatherings was supposed to have taken effect on Oct 25, but obviously some politicians think they are above the law.

“As the risk of transmission of Covid-19 remains high, especially with the transmission of the Delta variant in the community and the growing number of new cases reported, these political activities will only further increase the likelihood of more infection outbreaks,” the Health Minister was reported as saying.

He said any individual, organiser or organisation could be subject to compounds or prosecution in court if they were found guilty of committing offences under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).

Lest we forget, the then Perikatan Nasional administration admitted that the Sabah state election last year was the primary contributor to a surge in Covid-19 cases that eventually led to a nationwide lockdown.

While we are no longer in a state of emergency, and state elections can still be held, the onus is on political parties and leaders to ensure that these “pandemic polls” are held without any repercussions.

Singapore’s spike in positive cases is a cautionary tale for Malaysia even as we start to travel domestically and will soon open our international borders.

The republic’s record numbers (5,324 on Oct 27) came as the city state is reaching an 85% fully inoculated population, even higher than us.

I have just returned from my first airline trip in almost two years. My holiday in Langkawi was an overwhelmingly positive experience, from the efficient Malaysia Airlines staff during the flight and at both KLIA and Langkawi International Airport (LIA), to the hotel staff as well as friendly locals.

It was good to see businesses up and running again, and Langkawi in its recovery mode. But I have a nagging worry that we may be letting our guard down a little too soon.

Most of us have been cooped up for so long that a short, domestic holiday would be the perfect tonic. And yes, domestic tourism will certainly help the economy and give local businesses a much-needed shot in the arm.

But not all places of business, including F&B operators and retail shops, observe or enforce SOP, as I witnessed in Langkawi. Although these operators are in the minority, I fear that with more out-of-state visitors going to holiday destinations, we might be opening ourselves up for another outbreak.

The majority of the hotels in Langkawi will be operating at full capacity for the long Deepavali weekend, and with the island on the verge of becoming an international tourism bubble, you can expect an influx of foreign tourists who will be attracted to the no-restriction policy that will be in place.

The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry has assured that “strict procedures would be in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 at the resort island”.

While that is certainly true at both KLIA and LIA, the same cannot be said of other parts of the island.

Hopefully, the authorities in Langkawi will step up enforcement of SOP adherence at restaurants and other spots popular among the out-of-towners because, barring the sporadic infections among staff and locals, the Langkawi tourism bubble has proven to be a success.

Another viral video currently doing its rounds shows a female expatriate haranguing a retail outlet staff at KLCC. The woman was irked at being denied entry into the shop because she wasn’t wearing a mask.

The police will investigate the incident and I hope that action will be taken against this woman to show that Malaysia has its own rules when it comes to dealing with the pandemic.

Other countries like Britain may have lifted their compulsory mask mandate in public spaces, but we haven’t. Malaysians and foreigners alike must still adhere to the SOP whether we like it or not.

As we open our borders to international travellers, foreign tourists will do well to understand and appreciate this.

Our Covid-19 SOP are enforced so that travelling can be allowed and that all of us are kept safe.