Even as countries all over the world have begun their vaccination programmes, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over.
Definition of “never-ending nightmare”, right there.
Malaysia Lockdown Costs S$320 Million Per Day
On Tuesday (15 June), on the eve of an important meeting among the country’s monarchs that could decide on his political future, Malaysia’s Prime Minister (PM) Muhyiddin Yassin unveiled a four-phase post-pandemic exit plan for Malaysia.
In a televised address, Tan Sri Muhyiddin unveiled the National Recovery Plan, which projects that Malaysia might gradually open up its economy, social sectors and also Parliament from September onwards.
Currently, the federal Parliament and the 13 state legislatures have not sat this year.
Pointing to the fact that the current lockdown is costing the government RM1 billion (S$320 million) a day, Mr Muhyiddin told Malaysians “We cannot continue like this. We need to exit this crisis as soon as possible.”
At this point, I’m pretty sure everyone’s been telling themselves that for the past one and a half years.
According to Mr Muhyiddin, much of the country’s economy is expected to reopen by the end of October, based on current projections.
Currently, Malaysia is undergoing its third nationwide lockdown in response to the latest COVID-19 surge. The country has been struggling to bring down its COVID-19 infections this year.
On 29 May, daily cases in Malaysia hit a record 9,020 cases. Daily infections have gone below 1,000 a day only once this year, at 941 cases on 29 March.
The Plan
In his announcement, Mr Muhyiddin described the current lockdown as the first phase of the exit plan. He outlined several factors that would allow Malaysia to move on to a more relaxed phase.
No pain, no gain indeed.
The second phase of the exit plan will start once Malaysia’s daily new infections dip below 4,000 cases, and also after 10% of the population has been fully inoculated. This is expected to take place in July and August.
During this second phase, COVID-19 curbs will be slightly relaxed while retaining social sector and travel bans.
The third phase, currently projected to take place in the beginning of September, will start once Malaysia’s daily cases dip below 2,000 a day, and after 40% of the population has been fully vaccinated.
This phase will see most sectors of the economy allowed to open by default, while some curbs on social sectors remain.
The fourth and final phase of the plan, is a full reopening projected from November onwards. This phase will start once Malaysia’s daily new cases dip below 500 a day, and after 60% of the population has been fully vaccinated.
Expressing his confidence that the exit plan would succeed when matched with the pace of vaccinations, Mr Muhyiddin said, “The continuous lockdowns have badly affected our livelihoods. Now, we can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel”.
Malaysia’s State of Emergency
Mr Muhyiddin’s address to the nation comes just hours after an audience with Malaysia’s King, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah.
On Wednesday (16 Jun) at 2:30pm, Sultan Abdullah will meet the eight other Malaysian monarchs in a special Conference of Rulers meeting. The handling of the COVID-19 crisis by the Muhyiddin administration is expected to be discussed.
The national state of emergency that is supposed to end on 1 August is also expected to be discussed.
In January, Mr Muhyiddin gained the King’s consent to declare a national state of emergency. To allow the government to focus its efforts in battling the pandemic, this state of emergency suspended Parliament and state legislatures, and also postponed several by-elections.
However, COVID-19 cases have only worsened during the emergency. Just last month, Malaysia imposed movement curbs for the third time in that month, which was also the deadliest month since the pandemic began in January last year.
From 1 June, Mr Muhyiddin imposed a total lockdown nationwide. The lockdown has since been extended to last until 28 June.
Yesterday (15 Jun), Mr Muhyiddin said that the total lockdown had helped Malaysia “avoid a catastrophe”.
Yesterday (15 Jun), Malaysia recorded 5,419 new daily infections, bringing total infections to 667,876.
However, on Monday (14 Jun), Malaysia registered its highest vaccination rate to date—a total of 197,963 doses were administered in one day. Currently, Malaysia has given at least one dose of the vaccine to 10% of its 33 million population.
Meanwhile, 59% of its adult population have registered to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
On Tuesday, Malaysia’s Drug Control Authority (DCA) approved two single-dose vaccines, China’s CanSino and the United States’ Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Currently, Malaysia uses three two-dose vaccines: the ones produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinovac, and AstraZeneca.
The DCA also approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those aged 12 years old and above on Tuesday.
Feature Image: Farrel Arissa / Shutterstock.com
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