KUALA LUMPUR, The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) has called on the government to continue to provide necessary assistance to the people, especially those from the low-income and underprivileged groups.
Such assistance includes wage subsidy, loan moratorium, low interest or interest-free financing, living allowance and welfare aids.
Its President, Tan Sri T.C Goh said this is crucial in order to help the people to better cope with the devastating impact of the Covid-19 induced economic depression.
He also proposed that, with 80% (750,000) of the civil servants (except for those in the service sector or in the frontlines) having been told to work from home, the government should come out with proper standard operating procedures (SOPs) to monitor their work and performance.
He said, while he appreciates the working from home approach which is inevitable amidst the pandemic, he nonetheless opines that it should be properly monitored, so as not to compromise the standard and efficiency of our public service and delivery system, amidst the pandemic.
Goh who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) was commenting on the government’s latest decision to tighten the SOPs under the ongoing movement control order (MCO 3.0), while allowing the economic sector to remain open.
He underscored that with the Covid-19 situation in the country getting from bad to worse, it has become even more urgent for Malaysians to better unite themselves to fight the pandemic.
“We also hope that politicians from both sides of the divide could strictly refrain from indulging in unnecessary political clamour, and to fight along the people, against mankind’s worst threat, which is the Covid-19,” he added.
He acknowledged that the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc worldwide, Malaysia included, where it has significantly devastated almost all aspects of people’s life, from the entire economy to business operations, national healthcare system, and even the people’s survival.
Besides this, he also urged the government to forge a close collaboration with the international community and all quarters, including politicians from both sides of the divide and the private sector, to expedite the nationwide immunization program.
He stressed that this is crucial, in order to achieve the intended goal of nationwide immunization, as soon as possible as this is the best hope to beat the pandemic.-pr/BNN
