KUCHING: Unrealistic!
This is the view of an academic who says education and raising public awareness on the need to wear facemasks in enclosed areas are more effective than reintroducing compounds for failing to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Associate Professor Dr Helmy Hazmi, of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), described compounds or fines as a “grey area” and always a subject of contention.
“Currently there are too many possible “settings” when people or an offender may justify his or her reasons for not wearing a face mask (as they are allowed to remove it) when giving a speech, when eating, or taking a picture,” he said.
“To reintroduce compounds for not wearing a facemask indoors is not realistic as the country had entered the endemic phase with various relaxed SOPs,” the public health expert told New Sarawak Tribune.
“So, it is difficult to reintroduce compounds for those who are not wearing face masks indoors. Besides, nobody likes being fined. Hence, it is better for us to educate or raise awareness that using a facemask is still necessary.”
Dr Helmy was commenting on Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s recent remark that the ministry might reintroduce compounds for failing to wear face masks in enclosed spaces if COVID-19 cases continued to spike as many people had started failing to adhere to mask-wearing indoors, which was still compulsory.
Since April 17, the ministry has no longer issued compounds because the ministry at the time decided that this was in line with the transition into the endemic phase, prioritising community empowerment and individual responsibility.
However, Khairy said his ministry did not discount the possibility of re-enforcing Act 342, especially those who refused to wear masks indoors.
Dr Helmy said an educative approach was instead a more effective way to nudge the minds of the people to remain steadfast in using face masks, especially indoors or in crowded places.
He said the Health Ministry as well as other health-related non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were not lacking in terms of platforms – both online and offline – to constantly disseminate health messages.
“I would say that their health promotion unit has been and should continue to stay active and creative in curating interesting and easy-to-follow messages on the wearing of a face mask indoors,” he said.
Dr Helmy also urged the public to be aware that they should play their role to reduce the risk of transmissions to prevent the increase of COVID-19 hospital admissions while the eligible recipients and high-risk groups should get their second booster dose.
“We hope we never have to reach that stage – to reintroduce compounds for failing to use a face mask indoors,” he said.
