Come tomorrow, about 70 percent (15.87 million) of the nation’s workforce will be back to work. This comes after Friday’s announcement by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin that most businesses could resume operations.
While, the Health Ministry of Malaysia has indicated the Covid-19 cases are under control, Health director-general Noor Hisham urged Malaysians to cooperate and keep practicing the guidelines provided by the Ministry, such as maintaining social discipline by keeping a safe social distance and a high level of self-hygiene.
“It doesn’t mean that we can continue our life as before,” he said. Malaysia has to embrace the ‘new normal’.
Since the movement control order (MCO) lock down on 18 March 2020, the founder of Country Heights Holdings Berhad, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew has set-up a Bantu-bantu Malaysia a non-profit initiative to bring in face mask and personal protection equipment (PPEs) for preventive measures and food ration distribution.
According to Lee, “Prevention is the best way to slow down the Covid-19”.
“We suggest – A Mask is A Must. Everybody going back to work must wear a mask to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” he said, adding that it is the rakyat’s duty and responsibility to the country.
Bantu-bantu Malaysia has chartered an airfreight to bring in 6.5 million of masks which was distributed to several non-government associations since the start of MCO lockdown.
On 26 March, they delivered 640 pieces of surgical gown to Sungai Buloh Hospital and subsequently on 30 March 2020, 2 units of ventilators; 300 units of PPE (personal protection equipment, suit and medical goggles); 20,000 unit of surgical mask and 3000 pieces of N95 grade mask for their medical staffs and the front-liners at Sungai Buloh Hospital.
Furthermore, the distribution also reached the medical and front-liners at the government and private hospitals in Malaysia such as UKM Hospital, University Malaya Medical Centre, Putrajaya Hospital, Shah Alam Hospital, Kota Bharu Hospital, Pantai Hospital, Ipoh Hospital, Hospital Besar Kuala Lumpur and sent to Sabah, Terengganu, Kelantan and other NGOs.
On 28 April, a total of 2 million masks were brought in by ship as they anticipated there will be a big demand for masks after the MCO.
“We will give a priority to charity organisations, religious groups and schools to buy our masks at 90 cent or at RM45 per box,” Lee pointed out.
Under Lee’s leadership, the Country Heights Group health subsidiary’s GHHS Healthcare is coordinating the Bantu-bantu Malaysia initiative at Palace of the Golden Horses hotel as the operations center.
