Covid-19 has spread to Malaysia at lightning speed, exposing the country seriously. An overwhelmingly unexpected example can be found in reports that front-line doctors in Malaysia have resorted to making alternative personal protective equipment from trash bags.
Malaysia might need such an Act. Let us call it the Pandemic Production Act . This Act should focus strictly on the production of essentials, and allow for a swift response to national emergencies and avoid shortages of items essential for the safety, health and wellbeing of Malaysians. The proposed PPA should allow quick flexible changes to production volumes, composition of goods and services, and lead times.
The PPA should protect workers through wage support or wage stabilisation, and public participation in the fine-tuning of occupational, environmental, and health measures. Such a move will require close coordination between the finance ministry and the health ministry.