Understanding The Impact of Covid-19 Outbreak in Malaysia

Abstract

The study aimed to provide an overview and understand the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Malaysia. The COVID-19 outbreak has exerted local and global implications and received high responses at both levels. National governments, as the major players, are responsible for devising strategies and measures to lessen the negative impact of COVID-19 on their citizens. The Malaysian government has implemented various initiatives to control the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of infection since the COVID-19 outbreak began in 2020 until today. The implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) by the government to control movement within and across district and state borders has been accepted and adopted as a new norm in controlling the spread of infection, especially involving vulnerable groups. Nevertheless, the movement restrictions also inhibited various economic sector activities, which are the lifeblood of society. Furthermore, most people affected are senior citizens from vulnerable and high-risk groups. They were impacted by declining income due to two primary factors, namely reduced income and unable to go out to work or business. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic include implementing initiatives to increase income, obtain food sources, and help improve children's learning process during challenging situations. Moreover, the Malaysian government's efforts to lessen the adverse effects of the pandemic produced minimal impact due to the government's unpreparedness and administrative tolerance. Thus, the Malaysian government is recommended to scale up preparation levels to face emergencies and ramp up investment in the health sector for better performance.