Malaysia, prepare for the 'war effort' against Covid-19

COMMENT | Let's put it this way, we have never seen this in our lifetime. Not in Malaysia's nationhood since 1957 and 1963. The last time the world saw such chaos was perhaps during World War Two, some 75 years ago.

As a nation, we should approach the Covid-19 pandemic with a mindset of a nation facing a war. Indeed, we are facing a human versus virus war.

In 1941, the United States was shocked by a sudden attack on Pearl Harbour. In response to the crisis, the US focused on bringing people together, mobilising all available resources and ramping up industrial productions for the war effort. Agility, coordination and massive changes to production are paramount in such difficult times.

On the day Pearl Harbour was attacked, the strength of the US Armed Forces only 500,000 personnel. By the end of World War Two, it was able to mobilise eight million men, turned factories into producing ammunition and supplies to support these soldiers and after the war ended, successfully transitioned them back to civilian life through the GI Bill.

These are lessons we can learn in increasing our nation’s resilience and preparedness to face the war against Covid-19.

The Covid-19 crisis will change the way the world functions. Nothing will be the same again. In Malaysia, it will not just end on March 31 when the movement control order (MCO) expires...