COMMUNITY’S ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST

COVID19 PANDEMIC
BY TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The talk was delivered by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye on 19 May 2020 by WEBEX and

organised by School of Applied Psychology, Social Work and Policy (SAPSP) Universiti

Utara Malaysia (UUM). The talk about Community’s Role in the Fight Against Covid19

Pandemic was participated almost 50 participants. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye is a Malaysian

social activist and former politician of the Democratic Action Party (DAP). He also vice-

president of Association for Preventing Drugs Malaysia (PEMADAM) and chairman of

the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Human Resources,

Malaysia. He received various awards such as Healthcare Services Award by Malaysian

Medical Association (MMA) in 2004 and Brand Laureate Brand Icon Leadership Award

in 2011. The talk was held started from 11.00 am until 1.00 pm.

2.0 SUMMARY

The talk is about the role of the Malaysian community in the fight against Covid19.

The most critically disease nationwide and worldwide is the Covid19 outbreak that began

in Wuhan, China around mid-December last year. The disease become the most serious

issues in Malaysia following its second wave which also recorded two deaths on March

17. The government has acted by declaring a 14-day Movement Control Order from

March 18 to March 31 to prevent it from spreading further. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye gave

his opinion about what is going on in Malaysia dan around the world. The Covid19

Pandemic is something that very dangerous and need to take seriously. He also gave the

advice on how to take care our self as student from being affected by virus Covid19. The
 government ordered the people to remain in their homes and reduce the movement while

maintaining personal hygiene as a precautionary measure. However, there are still people

who open booths for sales, sport and sightseeing. There are six steps suggested by Tan Sri

Lee Lam Thye. First, please come and do a free health screening at the health centre.

Secondly, if you just returned from any country, you are advised to report to the health

centre and have quarantine for 14 consecutive days. Third, you must wear a face mask.

Fourth, please stay indoors or Stay at Home. Fifth, always prioritize personal hygiene

such as bathing regularly and washing your hand properly with soap or using hand

sanitizer. In addition, disinfection of home area is also highly recommended to eradicate

the virus. Finally, if you need to get out such as buying something or going for inevitable

affair, be sure to keep one meter away from contact.

3.0 LEARNING THAT I GAIN FROM THE TALK

The knowledge that I learned in the talk was the importance of keeping yourself safe

in the Covid19 pandemic. Six steps suggested by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye also important as

student and community in Malaysia. First, come voluntarily and undergoing a free health

screening test at health centre. Secondly, if you just returned from any country, you are

advised to report to the health centre and have quarantine for 14 consecutive days. Please

consult your nearest clinic or hospital if you have symptoms like cough, fever, colds, sore

throat and difficulty breathing. Thirdly, if you not feeling well, wear a mask and

immediately seek treatment at clinic or hospital. Do not use the same mask repeatedly.

Fourth, staying at home can prevent us from being infected with the Covid19 virus. This

is the best time to spend quality time with family. Parents can be creative by doing

various activities such as cleaning the house, gardening, cooking and sports. Fifth, always

prioritize personal hygiene such as bathing regularly and washing your hand properly

with soap or using hand sanitizer. In addition, disinfection of home area is also highly
 recommended to eradicate the virus. Mix only one bleach and water and begin to disinfect

frequently touched areas such as doors knobs, light switches, phones, controllers, and

refrigerator doors. Finally, be sure to keep one meter away from contact if you need to get

out such as buying something or going for inevitable affair. We are also encouraged to

maintain good health such as eating nutritious food and doing simple home exercise.

4.0 OPINION ABOUT ONLINE LEARNING

Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) does indeed limit society in many

aspects. But in dealing with the situation, it does not mean that the learning and teaching

process is also limited. Virtual learning is now no longer just a style or option, but it is a

necessity especially in the CMCO and worldwide Covid19 outbreak. In my opinion, there

are pros and cons of virtual learning. The advantages of studying online are we are free to

choose the place for virtual learning. This is because we are not overwhelmed by the

place that you have set in. Secondly, studying online can help you save money. We do not

have to spend money to pay from accommodation. However, there are also disadvantages

in virtual learning. Studying online is free and you will not be overlooked. So, it is very

easy for you to lose focus or get tired of learning. You will miss something and maybe

you will misunderstand something. Finally, to learn online requires a fast internet

connection to streamline the learning process. There is no doubt that many internet

providers are offering a variety of internet packages. It is up to student to decide which

internet package is best for that individual.

5.0 CONCLUSION

As the conclusion, the government has taken their role in eradicating the Covid19

virus seriously. The community need to support the government’s effort to restore the

situation so that it can be return by normal by staying at home. It is hoped that during this

time, our country will recover, and this pandemic can be controlled.