Some SOPs can be relaxed for Johor elections, says MMA

 

The Malaysian Medical Association says ceramahs should be allowed in Johor but there should be proper crowd control and strict adherence to SOPs.

PETALING JAYA: Some SOPs can be relaxed for the upcoming Johor elections, says the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), given Malaysia’s vaccination rate and increasing booster shot uptake.

MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said more than 80% of the country’s population were fully vaccinated and there was an increase in the number of people receiving booster shots.

Based on the health ministry’s data, he said, more than 40% of adult Johoreans had received their third dose.

“Ceramahs would be okay if there is proper crowd control and strict adherence to SOPs,” Koh told FMT.

Dr Koh Kar Chai.

He said the contesting parties needed to pick the locations carefully, preferably outdoors or halls with proper ventilation.

House-to-house visits should be allowed but limited to distribution of printed materials without going into the homes, and preferably without face-to-face interaction.

“This is because there is always the risk of face masks being removed during such close contact,” he said.

However, Azrul Mohd Khalib of Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said although the Melaka and Sarawak polls seemed to indicate that elections could be held without seeing a spike in cases, the concern should be the rate of people needing hospitalisation, and dying as a result.

He told FMT that physical contact would take place in an election campaign.

“The issue is whether the public and politicians will understand and behave in a safe way, but experience tells us that no amount of policing or enforcement is going to work unless people are proactive,” he said.

Azrul Mohd Khalib.

Azrul predicted that SOPs would be “selectively observed or ignored altogether”, as politicians would want to be seen shaking hands, speaking without masks, and glad-handing supporters.

He said he would repeat the same thing most health experts had been emphasising – keep a distance, consistently wear face masks, use hand sanitisers, and avoid close and crowded spaces.

He also predicted that the voter turnout may be lower as the public was not fully convinced that elections could safely be held or were still afraid of congested areas.

On Jan 24, Pakatan Harapan (PH) urged the government to allow face-to-face campaigning in Johor, including ceramahs and distribution of campaign material house-to-house.

The Johor assembly was dissolved last Saturday and elections must be held within 60 days, meaning they must take place on or before March 23.

The Election Commission will meet on Feb 9 to set a date for the elections. - FMT