scholarly journals Forum Panelist 1: COVID-19 Response: BBNGO ‘crossing’ the nationality borders

Author(s):  
Dinsuhaimi Sidek

The Movement Control Order (MCO) due to the COVID-19 Pandemic implemented on18 March 2020 for Malaysia and the closing of the borders between Malaysia and Thailand caused a lot of strain on the Thai citizens working in Malaysia. Many of them were unable to do their usual job especially in the restaurants all over Malaysia.Efforts were taken by the NGOs and its sponsors in Thailand to relieve the Thai citizens’ suffering. On the 13th of April an agreement was signed between the Thai Islamic Medical Association of Thailand and ‘PertubuhanGabunganBantuanBencana NGO’ Malaysia (BBNGO) to support the Thai citizens in their daily life due to the difficulties during the MCO. Majority of those affected were the restaurant workers.According to reports there were about 40,000 Thai workers in Malaysia, most of whom worked in restaurants. On 18th April 2020 The Malaysian-Thai border was opened limitedly via five checkpoints, only 350 Thai citizens were allowed to cross each day. By early May 2020 more than 7,200 Thais have crossed the border including 2,100 who entered illegally by foot or small boats.Through the agreement between TIMA and BBNGO more than 400 packs of food supply were delivered to the Thai citizens mainly in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Penang, Perlis and Kedah. Information about their addresses and phone numbers were provided. Some were delivered direct to their homes while in some areas, they were asked to collect supplies from the nearby sundry shops. Knowing the difficulty of movement between districts during the MCO, the help of local NGOs was very much needed. The ‘Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia’ (through its Yayasan Ikram/I-Bantu), having branches in many districts of Malaysia became our main partner. The SOPs were maintained during the deliveries. Due to our good, continuous cooperation and relationship since our engagement in the 2014 flood in Kelantan and the 2016/17 flood in Southern Thailand, we have managed to implement several humanitarian missions and social activities with the Thai Islamic Medical Association and its partners. Other BBNGO activities during the MCO include aid for the university students, fresh cooked food for the front-liners, preparation of PPEs, food supply for the poor and needy.COVID-19, you are a blessing in disguise; you bring our hearts together may it be citizens or non-citizens, people of all races and religion. May Allah blessthe human race and its submission to God.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2021 Page: S6

Author(s):  
Sarala Thulasi Palpanadan, Et. al.

Malaysia is one the countries in the world that has declared Movement Control Order (MCO) method to break COVID-19 chain to save the nation from being infected by this contagious outbreak. All learning institutions were ordered to conduct distance learning classes. Students at the residential colleges were involved were separated into the Quarantined and Non-Quarantined categories and their welfare was taken care by the university management under the Department of Student Affairs. Subsequently, the food aspect was one of the crucial issues during this phenomenon. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the Non-Quarantined residential college students’ perceptions regarding the management of food during the MCO. This quantative study was conducted at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). A survey was conducted where 520 students responded to the questionnaire distributed via WhatsApp mode. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for The Social Science Version 25.0 (SPSS 25). The findings indicated that majority of the respondents were satisfied with the food provided and there was no significant difference between the perceptions of male and female students towards the university’s management in handling food during MCO


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Chamil Arkhasa Nikko Mazlan ◽  
Nor Azman Mohd Ramli ◽  
Mohd Hassan Abdullah ◽  
Aiman Ikram Uyub

2020 is a very challenging year because of the covid-19 pandemic and this completely changed the music education landscape. In the past, learning musical instruments could be done face to face, now it is impossible. If no action is taken, this situation could cause stress among students, especially those who learning gamelan ensemble instruments. Unlike other musical instruments, the ensemble gamelan is expensive and student cant afford to buy it. That is why set of gamelan is only owned by the university and placed in the faculty only. Due to this, students who live far away are unable to practice their gamelan instrument due to movement control order these days. Therefore, this study introduces Gamelan E-Learning Techniques, which is the concept of learning gamelan basic hand techniques using a simulation methods for keromong, gambang, saron and gendang. The uniqueness of this study is due to the emphasis on the basic hand techniques of gamelan. By using google class application as well, lecturers can upload learning videos as well as assessment of student game techniques online can be done. This study uses experimental case study method with qualitative approach. The participants consisted of second semester of 36 students who attended the AME 3082 gamelan course at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).   


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khayriyyah Mohd Hanafiah ◽  
Chang Da Wan

The COVID-19 pandemic is the first to occur in an age of hyperconnectivity. This paper presents results from an online anonymous survey conducted in Malay, English, and Chinese, during the first week of the Movement Control Order in Malaysia (n=1075), which aimed to examine public knowledge, perception and communication behavior in the Malaysian society in the face of a sudden outbreak and social distancing measures. Although the level of public knowledge, risk perception and positive communication behavior surrounding COVID-19 was high, a majority of respondents reported receiving a lot of questionable information. Multinomial logistic regression further identified that responses to different items varied significantly across respondent survey language, gender, age, education level and employment status.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aidalina Mahmud ◽  
Poh Ying Lim ◽  
Hayati Kadir Shahar

BACKGROUND On March 18, 2020, the Malaysian government implemented Movement Control Order (MCO) to limit the contact rates among the population and infected individuals. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to forecast the trend of the COVID-19 epidemic in Malaysia in terms of its magnitude and duration. METHODS Data for this analysis was obtained from publicly available databases, from March 17 until March 27, 2020. By applying the Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious and Removed (SEIR) mathematical model and several predetermined assumptions, two analyses were carried out: without and with MCO implementation. RESULTS Without MCO, it is forecasted that it would take 18 days to reach the peak of infection incidence. The incidence rate would plateau at day 80 and end by day 94, with 43% of the exposed population infected. With the implementation of the MCO, it is forecasted that new cases of infection would peak at day 25, plateau at day 90 and end by day 100. At its peak, the infection could affect up to about 40% of the exposed population. CONCLUSIONS It is forecasted that the COVID-19 epidemic in Malaysia will subside soon after the mid-year of 2020. Although the implementation of MCO can flatten the epidemiological curve, it also prolongs the duration of the epidemic. The MCO can result in several unfavorable consequences in economic and psychosocial aspects. A future work of an exit plan for the MCO should also be devised and implemented gradually. The exit plan raises several timely issues of re-infection resurgence after MCO are lifted.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilya Yasnorizar Ilyas ◽  
Abdul Rauf Ridzuan ◽  
Rosilawati Sultan Mohideen ◽  
Mohd Hilmi Bakar

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Rohaizat Hassan ◽  
Mohd Nizam Subahir ◽  
Linayanti Rosli ◽  
Shaharom Nor Azian Che Mat Din ◽  
Nor Zaher Ismail ◽  
...  

PurposeThe paper highlights the process-handling during the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in combating pandemic COVID-19 in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachMalaysia first issued an EMCO following a cluster that involved a religious gathering. The EMCO was issued to lockdown the area, undertake screening, treat positive cases and quarantine their close contacts. Active case detection and mass sampling were the main activities involving the population in both zones.FindingsOne hundred ninety-three confirmed COVID-19 cases were identified from the total population of 2,599. Of these cases, 99.5% were Malaysians, 31.7% were aged >60 years and all four deaths (Case Fatality Rate, 2.1%) were elderly people with comorbidities. One hundred and one cases (52.3%) were asymptomatic, of which 77 (77%) were detected during mass sampling. The risk factors contributing to the outbreak were contacts that had attended the religious gathering, regular mosque congregants, wedding ceremony attendees and close household contacts. Malaysia implemented an effective measure in the form of the EMCO to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, where the last cases were reported 16 days before the EMCO was lifted.Originality/valueThe residents’ compliance and inter-agency cooperation were essential elements to the success of the EMCO. A targeted approach using an EMCO should be implemented in a future pandemic.


Author(s):  
Abdul Mutalib Embong ◽  
Azelin Mohamed Noor ◽  
Hezlina Mohd Hashim ◽  
Syahrul Alim Baharuddin ◽  
Norasyikin Binti Abdul Malik

This study reveals the currents social welfare which includes the uprising practice of Islamic charity, namely Infaq (voluntary alms giving), an instrument to help the unfortunate people (asnaf). It used qualitative approach involving semi-structured interviews focusing on six themes with six respondents. They engage in Infaq during the MCO or Movement Control Order. The results showed that there was a rise of contemporary fame of Infaq among Malaysian middle-class Muslims and charity body or organisation that specialise in sedekah/Infaq programmes . These parties make use of the platform of social media to record their activities and raise funds activity to help the needy who demand immediate and non-bureaucratic donations especially in a form of material help like food and daily necessities. This indeed has changed the course of how sedekah or Infaq used to be done back then. More Muslims who perform these Islamic charities display their efficiency and transparency in their donations as in Islam, sedekah is as a spiritual ‘investment’ to the donors despite the hard time people face during pandemic. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 183-186
Author(s):  
Malanashita Ganeson ◽  
Sasikala Devi Amirthalingam ◽  
Kwa Siew Kim

The Malaysian government’s ongoing movement control order (MCO) to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread, has disrupted the teaching and learning (T&L) activities of higher education institutions in the country. This paper seeks to outline the steps taken by the Department of Family Medicine of the International Medical University (IMU), Malaysia, to adapt its online teaching and learning activities. The five tips are: i) understand how to use online T&L platforms; ii) teachers should create multiple communication channels; iii) ensure attendance is captured; iv) enhance the online T&L experience and v) conduct online formative assessments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-68
Author(s):  
M.V. Prasanna ◽  
S. Chidambaram

Malaysia is considered as one of the countries with the highest novel corona virus (COVID-19) infected cases in Southeast Asia. Recent studies have identified that the air quality of a region also governs the transmission of the virus through pollutants. Hence, a study was conducted to assess the influence of air quality on the COVID-19 pandemic spread in central Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. An attempt was also made to infer the effect of monsoonal precipitation on air quality. Central Peninsular Malaysia consists of major cities like Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya. These cities are highly populated, with the expansion of industrial activities, rapid urbanisation and greater usage of vehicles has resulted in air quality deterioration. Such conditions have led to related public health issues, compared to Sabah in east Malaysia. In this study, COVID-19 infected cases, air quality index (AQI) and precipitation data were collected from 25 January to August 2020 to infer the relationship of air quality to the pandemic spread before, during and after the implementation of lockdown periods in the country, referred as movement control order (MCO). The lockdown periods fall under various monsoon climate patterns in the country. Interpretation of data reveals that the variation in air quality correlates with the infected cases. Improved air quality was observed during the last phase of MCO with a lesser number of infected cases. The HYSPLIT model was adopted to study the backward air mass trajectories for different time frames to identify the variation in the sources of pollutants reaching the study area. The study determined that the air pollutants have reached the study area from various directions, reflecting a mixed contribution from the ocean and land area. The relationship between high precipitation (during inter-monsoon and SW monsoon) and improved air quality reveals the washout effect of air pollutants. The outcome of this study inferred that the variation of air quality and precipitation rates facilitate the pandemic spread in this region in addition to the other meteorological factors, apart from individual immune capacity and social distancing.


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