KUALA LUMPUR: The recent tabling of the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill in Parliament must encapsulate the views and suggestions of people from various financial background, especially those still grappling to stay afloat and service their loans.
Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the bill tabled for first reading in parliament recently, should provide among others, urgent temporary relief assistance for financially distressed individuals, businesses and firms.
He said relief from legal actions should also be provided for a person's inability to perform scheduled contract, and to give rental relief and other related measures.
"The draft of the 'Implementation of Temporary Measures to Reduce Impact of Covid-19 Bill' is self-explanatory, but its scope and effectiveness is yet to be determined, pending further process.
"I hope the bill will be a comprehensive one, which would include views of people like the former Federal Counsel at the Attorney General's Chambers, Prof Salleh Buang, who wrote a July 26 article published in the New Straits Times (about this issue) and people on forefront of these issues," Lee added.
Lee said he agreed with a point made by Salleh about how the new law cannot stand alone, but how it must be accompanied by amendments to other existing legislation; and how the new law should be limited, if necessary, for a specific period of time.
"The government needs to consider some aspects of similar laws passed in Singapore, France, China, the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand."
Among others, Lee said Singapore's Covid-19 Control Order provides relief for businesses and a moratorium on payment of rents for a specific period of time.
"They (Singapore) also provides for stiff penalties for violating its provisions including a fine and/or a jail sentence of six months for the first offence, and double the penalty for the subsequent offence.
"It will be good if the authorities can give wide publicity to the proposed provisions, so that the public can participate in a robust debate about it. This is to make sure that our legislation can be all-encompassing and it will consider the plight of various stakeholders," Lee said in a recent statement.
He said it will also be good to marshal the views of those who are the most affected by Covid-19—the daily-rate workers, manual workers, migrant workers, plantation industry workers and those who are dependent on voluntary social services.
"These are people who have the greatest need for financial and psychological help, but their voices are seldom heard because they are largely unrepresented. The new law must ensure their voices are heard and considered,by creating and enabling new platforms.
"It will also be good to consider the plight of frontline workers in hospitals, who have been exposed to the infection regularly," he said.
He said if the government could not consider monetary rewards, then they should consider other options, including giving them extra rest days as a form of relief or reward.
Lastly, Lee proposed that all new legislation and amendments to existing laws should have an overarching imperative for the sake of the health, safety and well-being of all Malaysians, especially those in the most vulnerable category.