Opinion | Malaysia cannot hope to overcome Covid-19 without a plan

Malaysia has had a difficult time with Covid-19. The country’s efforts to contain the pandemic have been clouded by political instability and shifting allegiances, with the most recent drama being Umno’s withdrawal of support for the government.

Public trust is crucial for any government, but trust is eroding in Malaysia. Last month, two of the top trending Twitter hashtags were #KerajaanPembunuh (#MurderousGovernment) and #BenderaPutih (#WhiteFlag). The former started to trend when statistics revealed that there had been three suicides a day so far in 2021. The government’s poor handling of the pandemic was blamed for this tragic statistic.

The second hashtag then became a rallying cry, with many Malaysians stepping up to assist fellow citizens. Social media filled with depressing imagery of rows of houses hoisting white flags, and there were numerous heartwarming grass-roots campaigns to collect and disburse aid to those in need.

These two hashtags are only the most recent manifestations of a prolonged trust crisis for Malaysia’s government. There are several reasons for the steady erosion of trust and goodwill since it assumed power in March 2020. Firstly, the prolonged pandemic has put a strain on Malaysians, with many falling into poverty as they are overcome by debts and financial commitments.

Secondly, instances of double standards in the enforcement of social distancing have created a barrier between leaders and citizens. There have been about at least a dozen cases of ministers, deputy ministers and members of parliament breaking lockdown restrictions without immediate consequences. By contrast, regular citizens were often fined large sums for trivial offences.