Reminiscence

After more than fifty days under lockdown, my mind seems to be going back in time. Last night I couldn't sleep. As I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, suddenly a wave of recollections hit me.

In a way, it felt like my whole life flashed before me. Well, almost, but not quite.

I was brought back all the way to the years 1967- 69, to vivid memories of sitting on long benches in my primary school hall together with many other students learning new songs from my Headmaster, Mr Wong, during the weekly Chapel Service.

Some of the songs that I recall learning during Chapel service in those days in Primary School were:

(1) Thank you Lord, for saving my soul.
(2) Joy, Joy, Joy, with joy my heart is ringing
(3) Only a boy called David
(4) Jesus loves the little children

Tonight, I'd like to share with my Christian brothers and sisters this song of thanksgiving which has stayed unnoticed at the back of my mind for more than fifty years, until now.

(1) Thank you Lord for saving my soul,
Thank you Lord for making me whole
Thank you Lord for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich, and free.

Thank you Lord for saving my soul

Nagging questions

Nagging questions.

Are state governments allowed to make their own regulations and to impose additional restrictions?

For example, under the CMCO, can a state government insist on limiting vehicles to single occupancy only? Can they continue to restrict movement to 10 km? Can they continue to enforce 10 pm to 6 am curfew on private vehicles?

If one thinks so, then could each state government have imposed their own stricter version of lockdown right from the start of MCO on 18Mar20? e.g. allow markets and shops to open only once a week?

And if so, could each state government have declared their own lockdowns earlier than 18Mar20?

Finally, do state governments have the authority to continue with their own lockdowns indefinitely when the MCO is eventually lifted by the Federal Government?

/// "Prominent lawyer, Datuk N. Sivananthan is of the view that state governments could not refuse to abide by the CMCO which has been gazetted to run from May 4 to May 12 as it supersedes the provisions of MCO4.

He said state governments have no lawful authority to refuse to comply with the CMCO as instructed by the federal government." ///

#covid19 #pandemic #lockdown #malaysia

Can state governments choose to defy CMCO?

It's all about social distance

In my opinion, the Conditional Movement Control Order, CMCO in Malaysia is a wise decision to prevent more people from losing their jobs, as long as businesses follow the SOP strictly for social distancing. It is a guarded relaxation of the seven-week long lockdown under the ongoing Movement Control Order.

State governments and District Councils cannot prohibit businesses from operating under the CMCO. They also cannot stop people from travelling more than 10 km within the state. And they cannot stop people from jogging, walking, exercising, cycling etc in the parks, as long as social distance is observed.

However, they can campaign aggressively to discourage the public from going out unnecessarily, especially to crowded places.

Also, instead of road-blocks, the police and army can be deployed to patrol and enforce social distance SOP in towns and neighbourhoods.

Finally, for all of us, let us remember to put on our masks when going out, to stay away from crowded places, and to sanitise our hands after touching public facilities.

Minister’s approval needed for state MCO changes

Broken hopes

Malaysia, Sun 03May2020 MCO Day 47

We live with broken hopes upon hearing of another 122 new cases today, the highest in the last three weeks of MCO, since recording 170 cases on 14Apr20.

I am left wondering if the figures reported each day are up-to-date in real time, i.e. if today's 122 cases are really from samples taken from patients today.

This appears unlikely because I remember at the beginning of the MCO, the Ministry of Health used to report large numbers of patients "pending test results", to the tune of several thousands, a practice that seems to have been discontinued of late.

I also wonder whether it would be more helpful to the general public if MOH would publish daily figures based on sampling date, i.e. the date those samples were taken, rather than just report a lump-sum figure each day.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

It all started some time in March when I went for my scheduled final dose of Hep B vaccination. My doctor told me to watch my blood pressure for it was marginally high over my last three visits to see him.

I decided I needed more fruits in my diet and launched into a habit of taking an apple a day. Sometimes the apples that my wife bought from the market were huge, equivalent to two regular Washington apples. I took each one, all in a day nevertheless.

After seven weeks, it looks like this regimen has paid off well. My b.p. has dropped from a high 130+/80+ in early March, to 135/82 on 16Apr20, finally down to 120/73 today 03May20. With two consistent readings. Yay!