Sulochana Nair of Binary University said the government must provide households in the B40 income group with food, access to health facilities, a suspension of utility dues, and deferments of loan repayments on houses and cars.
She said essentials such as food should be distributed in a systematic manner and suggested that the government work closely with NGOs.
She spoke of the likelihood of increased mental and emotional stress in B40 households, saying this could cause an increase in incidents of domestic violence.
The government must pay close attention to this, Sulochana said.
“It is also very important to ensure that the B40 are fully vaccinated as they are most likely to be exposed to the Covid virus due to their cramped living arrangements,” she told FMT.
For this, she suggested that the government decentralise the vaccination process and enlist the help of heads of the PPR resident associations. “The vaccination can be carried out at their community halls.”
Nair also called for affordable internet access for the poor and the provision of internet devices to them to support their children’s online learning.
Another academic, Fatimah Kari of Universiti Malaya (UM), said the government should give cash handouts to the needy like it did when the first movement control order (MCO) was in force.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin introduced the Prihatin Rakyat Economic stimulus package during the first round of movement restrictions in March last year.
The package featured cash handouts of up to RM1,600 for eligible households and single persons on top of other direct one-off payments.
Fatimah anticipated a partial collapse of the economy, but said she hoped the government would be able to stabilise it in the short run with fiscal stimulus measures.
Economist Madeline Berma, an honorary professor at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), warned of severe economic setbacks if lockdowns were to last more than two weeks.
She said the government should still attempt a targeted approach to movement restrictions, honing in on areas with high rates of Covid-19 infection.
She noted that even longhouses with no Covid-19 cases now have to be locked down. “This makes life difficult for them,” she said.
She also said it was doubtful that the government could afford to dish out more financial aid.
“At the moment, I can only think of the private companies that are making extraordinary profits at this time. I think it’s high time they also extend their support to complement what the government has done.”
Muhyiddin announced yesterday that the country would go under a full lockdown from this Tuesday until June 14, saying it had become necessary because of staggering Covid-19 numbers and overcapacity at intensive care units (ICU) in hospitals nationwide.
Only essential economic activities and services are allowed during the period.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DATA ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN MALAYSIA