Author’s note: My mind's quite fuzzy lately, so I'm just some rambling out everything; almost unfiltered. Everyone – family, friends, Subang Jaya, Malaysia, the whole friggin’ world – is going through a tough time.
The first time I heard of Covid-19 was when it was labelled as the lethal Coronavirus. The outbreak was still contained in Wuhan, China at that time in January. Seems like a long time ago, but then, it took a different turn in events. The virus started spreading.
Malaysia records first Coronavirus case. It's okay. Malaysia still had it under control.
Then, one thing led to another, and the next I knew, our Prime Minister announced on nationwide television that a 2-week MCO will be implemented. On that Monday night, sitting in the living room with my family, I instantly thought: "Well, shit's getting serious here." I wasn’t wrong because within the next few days, panic buying happened, people rushed to balik kampung and TSMY had to give a grandpa-vibe lecture on TV.
MCO, which stands for Movement Controlled Order, is something Malaysia is going through right now. MCO happened after the number of Covid-19 cases in the country skyrocketed. Currently, there are over 1000 cases (including those who have recovered and passed away). We’re heading towards the end of the first week already and the numbers are still increasing. With this outbreak and MCO, I think some of us have made changes to our daily routine. Like me, I’ve developed the habit to check my Twitter every day from 4.30 pm onwards. It is around that time; the Ministry of Health will release the latest figures.
Oh, another 100 and something cases. That's what pops into my head every single time. Since we've been seeing an increase every day, I've become more and more immune, less and less surprised. It's pretty desensitising and I'll admit, I'm slowly turning pessimistic (I’ve been told I’m quite risk-averse). However, a teeny-tiny part of me is still hoping for a change of news.
Given the situation right now, I’ve begun to wonder: When will things improve? When will we get out of this quarantine? Why isn't it getting better? Will I have to defer to August intake? And then, there's the million-dollar question: What will happen when we get out of quarantine? That is something we haven't thought about yet: post-quarantine or post-MCO or post-whatever you wanna call it (Post-apocalyptic sounds good too). We all have been too busy focusing on the present, which I know has its own issues as well.
You're probably shaking your head: What's there to be scared, Lynelle? Everything goes back to normal! Nothing is or was ever at stake.
Listen, I'll tell you what's there to be concerned about when this outbreak is over:
People losing jobs as the economy experiences a downturn with stock markets crashing, currencies in crisis and assets declining in value. Businesses – big and small – are closed. There’s no money flowing in, out or generated. Then, companies cannot pay off their debts, they're forced to lay their people off. My parents or your parents might be jobless. Your older siblings, who are about to graduate, may not be able to find jobs. Ask anyone above the age of 50 about the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis and the 2010 Great Recession. Ask them how bad things were then, and how difficult life was.
Inflation occurring. Perhaps the panic buying is to be partly blamed for this. When people started stocking up and hoarding on all the supplies, it caused a surge in demand for goods.
Big conglomerates, capitalists and elites will gain from this inflation, charging more for their products due to high demands of goods. Your usual RM 7 Wantan Mee will suddenly cost RM 15 instead. This all should sound familiar. Maybe from what you lernt in business or economics. Or profit maximisation and exploitation. Whichever sounds better.
The other bigger problem is that in the midst of all this, the rich become richer while the poor become poorer.
“I often think how unfairly life's good fortune is sometimes distributed."
―Leo Tolstoy,War and Peace
Oh my, the poor. They are the ones who are the most impacted by this mess. It will become worse over time because you will find people taking certain sort of measures to survive. Desperate times call for desperate measures…If you know, you know.
The cycle repeats. Of course, this is just one of the few cycles that will happen hereafter: the economical side to everything else. Every inch of society will be affected through many other long-lasting cycles too; politically, socially, mentally...whatever-ally. Some will be fine, but most will suffer.
So, where are you going with this, Lynelle? What exactly are you trying to say? Unfortunately, I don't know either. My mind has gone into a hazy state lately, hence the very disorganised, aimless write-up you're reading (If my Media Workshop lecturer/tutor from first semester read this, she will definitely not be pleased hahaha).
All I know is that I'm worried about the future. Not just my own future but yours and everyone else’s. These are grave times, and there will be more coming ahead where we have to tiptoe around as glass shards are found to be shattered everywhere.
Tell me again, why shouldn’t I fear? Why shouldn't you fear?
Until my next post, see ya. Peace out.
(Edit: PM has extended the MCO until April 14th. We still cannot deny that there will be repercussions from it, as I have mentioned in this post after this outbreak is resolved. In hindsight, I believe that the extension is for the best)
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