This crisis requires extreme measures but not a military presence

LETTER | An unprecedented, unfortunate and a rather grave afflictive situation has enveloped the country with this Covid-19 pandemic. It calls for extraordinary, extreme and exceptional measures to be taken.

It is commendable that the Agong and prime minister have taken a hands-on approach to this alarming and life-threatening situation. There are, however, some serious shortcomings in handling this issue. The first relates to communicating and reaching out to the public with a clear unambiguous message or narrative. 

A senior civil servant needs to be on the air at least once every twelve hours to update the nation on the steps that are being taken to contain the pandemic. It is a question of managing a most serious crisis and conveying appropriate and accurate information in a timely manner at regular intervals. 

Perfectly healthy people are liberated from having to go to work or school, to be on the road in busy traffic or hurrying to be somewhere. They feel restricted and sometimes restless. They need to have all the necessary reassurances.

There is certainly much alarm, anxiety and anger over the handling of this issue. Much misinformation is also being circulated on social media. When some of this information goes unchallenged it assumes the characteristics of being true and factual.

It is time to get a media-savvy senior civil servant to speak professionally to the nation at least twice daily. The authorities should also try to obtain feedback from the public on the state of concern, confidence and confusion on this pandemic.

Government agencies at the district level and news portals should be encouraged to set up hotlines so that all public concerns are addressed

Is there a hotline, and has it been publicised? 

The police have been doing an excellent job in restricting movement. However, they have to be told that they are not enforcing a curfew. They have no business to tell anyone who is healthy standing alone outside their own houses to go indoors. It is unnecessary and unwarranted. Coronavirus is not spreading from plants and trees. There is no need for an overzealous display of authority.

The police can be entrusted to do their jobs with proper guidelines. Bringing in the military is something else. Soldiers are trained to perform other essential duties to defend the nation. A widespread military presence is very unusual for Malaysia. 

Military personnel are by nature confined in peacetime to their barracks. When brought out they feature in parades in their resplendent finery. Or they appear in honour guards and limited civilian duties. The Armed Forces is a respected institution and they need to be kept where they belong, in the barracks.

Requiring them to work with the police in carrying out civilian law and order duties is not the best thing to do.

It is regrettable that some members of the public have not been particularly punctilious or responsible in observing personal and community discipline in avoiding crowds, observing appropriate social distance and minimising socialising. They should be fined or cautioned by the relevant authority. 

There is no need for overkill by inviting the military to enforce a lockdown. We are not at war or in the middle of an insurrection or a major civil disturbance.

The police should continue to play a role as the principal civilian institution to safeguard the law and order situation. Speed limits should be enforced, for instance, as some road users are driving on our almost empty roads as if they are on racetracks.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.