Forget Pfizer's global resetting.
Its laughable but in Malaysia, SIRIM approve facemask can lead to the toppling of government. Its certainly puzzling why was the announcement made yesterday for a heavy-handed fine for both sellers and users of non-SIRIM approved facemask.
When a distant and political friend alerted of the viralled orange poster announcing the measure with the remark, "Swine!", this blogger didn't quite pick up. The writing on the poster was too small to be visible at one go.
It should be good that the facemask sold in public meets certain quality standard. He then said this will be a death nail to the "ruling party". Might as well call the general election and hand the government on a silver platter to DAP.
We search on the subject of SIRIM facemask on Facebook and immediately notice several familiar Facebooker defending the government in the usual standard and somewhat cliche manner of explaining the issue.
Frankly, such answers did not fulfill our curiosity. Why now to implement such rules? Is there a conspiracy, perhaps by civil servants, against government or Prime Minister?
The first comment read on the issue is below:
Then we realised the uproar is over the fines and it turned out to be an exorbitant one.
If this is fake news, it would certainly be believable to Malaysians because it would be a continuation of MOH's ridiculously excessive fines posed for breaking SOPs.
It is among the health policies that made Khairy Jamaluddin more unpopular than he already is. He abused his power to be vengeful on Dato Najib by indiscriminantly pick on him and was swift with the heavy compound during his campaign trails in Melaka and Johor.
A Facebooker
probably payrolled to viral rationalise the move as meeting SIRIM standard for locally manufactured product has been a government policy since 1966 and ramble on the reason behind the policy. Its a macro answer but problem is it is both a cliche and evading to answer in the same manner TNG Digital did on the 36% interest rate charged yesterday.
It is not a critical analysis of the problem. The writer is usually insensitive with issues of public concern and takes the side convenient to his political objective. He could not comprehend that overzealous enforcement can blow up and eventually become an issue that lead to losing GE15.
Another Facebooker
here failed to explain the issue properly to allay public uproar. He insulted readers for not reading the news in full and claimed KPDNHEP Minister, Alexander Nanta Linggi said the RM100,000
fine is not on users. However, the said poster came from his Ministry.
Have held back critic on his poor handling of ayam issue that PM had to step in, sekarang facemask issue pulak!
Seriously, this Sarawakian Minister and son of the late Temenggong Jugah has an articulation problem in communication. So we read through the poster on the professional "virallist" Facebook:
Lo and behold!
Its rather heavy handed to pose RM100,000 fines or up to three months imprisonment on individuals. The poster from Alex Nanta's Ministry does not say individual producer or seller or users.
A clear case of failure to communicate. It fair then for PM to use Malay for international relation. Government department themselves have poor command of the national language in their communication. So forget English!
The issue has nothing to do with achieving SIRIM standards. But it is the heavy handed and unnecessary fine. And PM had to do a U-turn again and postphone the implementation to next year. Quite fair!
Seriously, a Facebooker questioned why now? Why after more than two years of using facemask dilligently, only now KPDNHEP insist on SIRIM certified facemask?
One Facebooker Kak Fadh
here questioned the relevancy of the announcement because the pharmacies or celebrities or business people or even Shopee are not selling or using SIRIM certified facemasks. How will they implement the law?
Stop the use of Facemask as anti-vaccine advocating?
Apparently the use of facemask has its medical drawbacks. Most asthmatic patients complained of short of breath, more so when Noor Hisham suggested wearing two facemasks at one go.
Putting that aside, this Tic Tocker said it well that given current economic condition, it is an insensitive policy.
Alex has a bad habit of making insensitive comment in the ayam issue. He had absolutely no understanding of the ayam market and industry structure. Then he was lazy to pursue a solution and took the easy way to indiscriminately used price control. It then led to supply problem thus causing prices to spiral upward further.
Back to the facemask issue. To summarise, the logic of this law is plainly ridiculous.
And there is always politics ...Despite Alex's announced postphonement, perhaps this Tic Toc can explain the motivation behind the uproar. Notice it is not GPS or PN but BN being blamed.
This anti-BN and anti-KJ Tic Tocker repeatedly pick on any petty issue. He is in his elements to seize on the opportunity. Unless some politicians benefit from the policy, it a hit but no homerun or loaded bases.
Since it is politicised, this dude found an angle to spin and blame PM.
Apparently Kak Fadh missed the Jovian's SIRIM approved facemask. Seriously, it is merely coincidental.
We were only reminded that many months ago Zahid's daughter launched her own high-end SIRIM approved facemask. One cannot possibly accused Zahid of profiteering from his position in government. He is not in government.
More so, the "pro-PPBM, pro-party election before general election, and no Bubar" faction in UMNO are Ministers and started their campaign to push him off. Unless Khairy again do an unplanned offer to be President, their plan is to put up Ismail Sabri as UMNO President.
They started picking on Mohamad Hasan
Since they would not likely lend Zahid's daughter a hand in business, Zahid cannot be profiteering for his daughter from insider information on the enforcement of SIRIM required approval. If Zahid is not, neither is Ismail albeit his son-in-law.
Government servant conspiracy?
Then there is always the possible conspiracy of government servants sabotaging the ruling party. It happened on PH government for failing to administer, brutal in their enforcement and changing policies ridicuously at will to the detriment of the people, civil servants and country.
Unless there is a rampant penyamun by any Minister or group of Ministers, one need to put a finger on the problem to suspect of sabotage.
As far as Jovian and Norul, they may have done their market research and bank-in on the fact that Covid-19 is here to stay.
Even endemic stage Singapore insisted on facemask at certain places.
Malaysia will merely follow suit and KJ will insist if WHO request. If the Pandemic treaty is signed, it could put him in deeper trust deficit.
