This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 3, 2020 - August 9, 2020

There have been many news reports about police arresting or issuing fines to scores of people on an almost daily basis for flouting Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) regulation. Arrests can happen even while people are doing the most mundane things, like eating at a restaurant or exercising. Back in April, during the MCO, police even arrested mourners at a funeral procession, and necessarily so, as it was crucial for people to avoid crowds at the time.

Hence, it is puzzling that the authorities do not appear to have taken action against the hundreds that gathered in solidarity with former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Duta court complex last Tuesday. It was the day of verdict for his first 1Malaysia Development Bhd corruption trial.

The 900-odd people who gathered brazenly flouted social distancing rules, and may get away with it. According to some reports, even some Members of Parliament were seen at the compound, with several not wearing masks. 

But the virus does not discriminate, and so now we wait in fear to see if a new cluster emerges from this. Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham ­Abdullah expressed disappointment and said the health ministry would monitor for the emergence of Covid-19 cases among those supporters within two weeks.

Enforcers could have done better in this episode, especially at this crucial point in our country’s fight against a possible third wave of the virus outbreak.

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