KUALA LUMPUR: AS Malaysia enters the new year, much hope has been pinned on the restoration of a semblance of normalcy as the nation starts receiving Covid-19 vaccines.
Will Malaysians get their lives back as it was pre-pandemic?
Not so soon, answer experts.
Epidemiologist Professor Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud said the availability of an effective and safe vaccine would mean the beginning of the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"This will mean the economy will recover, classes will be conducted physically, borders will open up, allowing people to travel, and life will slowly return to normal."
He said this, however, would take time as vaccinations would need to cover a large number of people before herd immunity could be assured.
"Vaccinations may even need to be repeated if induced immunity is not long lasting, so there are still a lot of uncertainties ahead."
According to the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, herd immunity is achieved when the majority of a population is immune to an infectious disease, providing indirect protection to those who are not immune.
Malaysia is set to receive its first batch of Covid-19 vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech early next year.
It is the first country in Southeast Asia to purchase Covid-19 vaccine doses from the American-based company, Pfizer.
On concerns over complications from the vaccine, Dr Awang said practically all vaccines and all medicines had side effects.
"The side effects of a vaccine or medicine occur because humans show various results in their response to them.
"The question is whether the benefits of the vaccine or medicine outweigh the risks of the side effects, and whether the side effects are transient or permanent.
"If the vaccine is very effective and the side effects are relatively minor, in which it affects a small proportion of the population, and are transient, one can accept that some people will suffer side effects, but the majority will enjoy the benefits."
He said the health authorities would perform a risk assessment before vaccinating the public.
"(This is) especially for those with underlying diseases and those whose immune system may not mount an effective response, in addition to other considerations.
"This is part of the normal process and has been followed for years, so there is a lot of experience in doing this."
He said the government had announced that only a certain number of vaccine doses had been agreed upon for procurement next year, and the number was not adequate for herd immunity.
This, he added, would mean the government would need to look for more vaccines to procure.
"So with these factors in mind, we will not likely have a lasting herd immunity in the very near future with sustainably low levels of infections. So I am afraid that the 'new normal' will need to be the norm for some time to come."
Universiti Putra Malaysia epidemiology and biostatistics expert Associate Professor Dr Malina Osman said the current data on the vaccines was promising.
She said it was expected that Covid-19 cases would start declining once the vaccines were available, but it would take months before herd immunity was achieved in the country.
"Current measures should be continued until herd immunity is achieved."
On a similar note, epidemiologist and Universiti Malaya Professor Dr Sanjay Rampal said there had been encouraging short-term results from the few vaccine trials.
"I am cautiously optimistic of the effect of these first-generation vaccines for this global pandemic."
On the country's long-term vaccination plan, Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar was of the opinion that the government must make vaccination compulsory for public servants.
"The government should consider making it compulsory for public servants and all workers, especially non-citizens.
"This is because of the risk
of big clusters, community
transmission and economic loss when large populations of workers get infected."
He added that Malaysia would not be totally free from Covid-19 in the next three to five years as it also depended on the situation in other countries as well.
"The Covid-19 vaccine has given hope. But it will take years before things can go back to normal."
POLITICS
The distribution of Covid-19 vaccines will make it more likely that the 15th General Election (GE15) is held some time next year.
Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Professor Dr Azman Awang Pawi said several politicians and political parties were pushing for early polls.
"Once the vaccines are rolled out, the prime minister will likely call a general election. However, if the vaccines are delayed, for instance, by bureaucracy, the election will also be delayed," he said.
Dr Awang also expected more political realignments to take place, especially after the dissolution of Parliament .
"The court's verdict on former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's appeal and the verdict on Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's case are crucial factors that will chart Umno's course.
"The Perikatan Nasional coalition will try to consolidate its position by strengthening ties with Pas. Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan may consider political cooperation with Umno to take over Putrajaya," he said.
COURT CASES
The year 2021 will be an eventful one for the judiciary as the courts are expected to deliver verdicts in several high-profile cases involving prominent figures.
The first case to get a decision next year is the one involving former Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad. He is facing nine corruption charges involving RM3 million over the purchase of a hotel in Kuching, Sarawak. The decision has been scheduled on Feb 3 before High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.
Najib is expected to have the first appeal against his conviction and sentencing over the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd's funds heard.
The Court of Appeal has fixed Feb 15 to 18, Feb 22 to 25, and March 1 to 4 for his appeal.
His other two trials involving the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal will resume next month.
Other court cases in the limelight include the corruption cases of Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Zahid and other leaders, who were hauled up to court after the 14th General Election.
12TH MALAYSIA PLAN (2021-2025)
The year 2021 marks the beginning of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). The five-year plan will be aligned with the shared prosperity initiative encompassing three dimensions — economic empowerment, environmental sustainability and social re-engineering.
The economic empowerment dimension will include new sources of growth, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital economy, aerospace industry and integrated regional development, as well as growth enablers such as sustainable energy sources and infrastructure connectivity.
The environmental sustainability dimension, among others, will include the blue economy, green technology and renewable energy, as well as adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
The social re-engineering dimension comprises enhancing societal values, improving purchasing power of the people, building a resilient Bumiputera community, strengthening social security networks and improving the wellbeing of the people.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed had said the government would table the 12MP during the First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 14th Parliament scheduled in March.
He said the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department was finalising the documents.
NEW LAWS
Major bills that have been passed in the Dewan Rakyat and are expected to come into force in 2021 will, among others, help alleviate the people's burden amid the pandemic.
These bills include the Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2020, which will see the minimum debt threshold increased from RM50,000 to RM100,000 to prevent more Malaysians from being declared bankrupt.
The Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2020 will see those driving under the influence getting heavier fines and more prison time.
Other bills that have been passed and are expected to come into force next year are the National Security Council (Amendment) Bill 2020, Courts of Judicature (Amendment) Bill 2020, Subordinate Courts (Amendment) Bill 2020, Subordinate Courts Rules (Amendment) Bill 2020, Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill 2020, Customs (Amendment) Bill 2020, Excise (Amendment) Bill 2020, Free Zones (Amendment) Bill 2020, Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill 2020, Service Tax (Amendment) Bill 2020 and the Tourism Tax (Amendment) Bill 2020.
Seven crucial bills involving next year's budget for the government and its fight against Covid-19 were also passed in the last Dewan Rakyat sitting.
The bills are the Supplementary Supply (2019) Bill 2020, Supply (Reallocation of Appropriated Expenditure) Bill 2020, Temporary Measures for Government Financing [Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19)] Bill 2020, Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Bill 2020, Supply Bill 2021, Finance Bill 2020 and the Temporary Measures for Government Financing [Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19)] (Amendment) Bill 2.
As for the upcoming bills in 2021, at least five that have gone through the first readings are expected to be passed in the next Dewan Rakyat session.
These bills are the Independent Police Conduct Commission Bill 2020, Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill 2020, Factories and Machinery (Repeal) Bill 2020, Malaysian Space Board Bill 2020 and the Windfall Profit Levy (Amendment) Bill 2020.
HAJ
Lembaga Tabung Haji group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Nik Mohd Hasyudeen Yusoff said the government would discuss with the Saudi government the conditions and flexibilities for Malaysian pilgrims to perform the haj next year.
He said the discussion would touch on whether Malaysian pilgrims should be given the Covid-19 vaccination.
The number of Malaysians pilgrims next year, if the nation decides to send them, is also expected to be fewer than usual. Previously, some 30,000 Malaysians performed the haj every year.