MAY 10 ― We are in a period of a leaden-footed Malaysia that’s finding it difficult to think beyond lunch or find its way out of an empty convention hall.

These are gruelling days. Scary ones, too.

The sentiment of fear and hope is everywhere as the nation struggles to recover from a series of terrifying incidents that have ripped through the hearts of Malaysians.

Everyone appears to be ‘working’ in isolation and the absence of cohesiveness is quite staggering.

There are countless examples of how politicians and extremists are hopelessly failing to prepare for the future. Our route to a rational Malaysia is downright substandard.

I see no evidence of serious thought being given to the future of our nation’s long-term needs and her economic health.

One thing is certain: Malaysia will face many more crises in the coming years than MH370, kidnappings off Sabah’s east coast, extremists’ views and water cuts.

Clearly, there’s no real plan to address the issues that have weighed down on a devastated Malaysia and the risks of being further isolated by the international community is growing.

There’s absolutely no excuse for damaging the reputation of your country and disgracing your countrymen.

Although there’s plenty of blame to go around for the sorry state of affairs, there’s something Putrajaya could do today to ratchet down tensions and build trust with the international community: a “Recovery Malaysia Plan” that will deflect the anger of our biggest markets at us.

First, tell the extremists to clam up and refrain from antagonising economic partners unless someone wishes for the devaluation of the ringgit. Even if it takes slamming the full might of the law on them.

The disappearance of MH370, the Sabah kidnappings of tourists and the raging Islamic penal law, hudud, controversy demands that we focus on homeland security and increasing economic growth.

There is a lot of work for Malaysia to do to rebuild its image. But the big problem is the lack of a national plan to rebuild trust and confidence among our friends.

Putrajaya speaks about that, but we don’t see a recovery plan that augurs well for the development and trustworthiness of Malaysia.

A long-term recovery plan that will remain long after the bad publicity has waned is imperative. Conceptualising such a plan is a massive challenge, but Malaysia needs to marshal a national unity of purpose to fortify its gains.

China, with whom we have had a special relationship, for instance, can’t be written out of the picture. It remains a powerful political, cultural and economic partner.

More than 60 days have passed since MH370 vanished with 154 Chinese nationals (out of 239 people) on board, and the superpower is still accusing us of a cover-up. A multinational search for the plane in the southern Indian Ocean has found no trace of the aircraft.

China’s frustration with Malaysia’s handling of the missing passenger jetliner and the spate of kidnappings off Sabah involving its citizens has been costly.

The travel and related industries could lose up to billions of ringgit because of the outrage in China over issues surrounding MH370.

A long-term national recovery plan will be a massive challenge long after the bad publicity over MH370 and the Sabah kidnappings are forgotten.

Consider: A whopping 30 per cent of Chinese tourists have reportedly cancelled their bookings to visit Malaysia this year since the disappearance of Flight MH370 and the kidnappings. The local tourism industry stands to suffer unprecedented losses as China accounts for 12 per cent of Malaysia’s international tourists.

Chinese tourists who spent an average of RM2,800 each in Malaysia, made up the third largest group after Singapore and Indonesia, with a record 1.6 million people last year.

This 2014 Visit Malaysia Year, the Malaysian government targeted 1.79 million Chinese tourists — many of whom had planned to come here in the second half of this year — of the projected 28 million visitors to the country.

The kidnappings of two Chinese tourists by armed men in Sabah on April 2 and this week also contributed to a drop in tourist arrivals from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The financial ramifications on airlines are equally severe. Malaysia Airlines had to cancel flights to China after MH370 went missing on March 8. Ticket sales have been practically nil in China, a route that accounts for 10 per cent of MAS’s total revenue. The loss of income could be a major threat to its future earnings growth.

China Southern Airlines, which had three flights between Kuala Lumpur and China daily, has reduced the frequency to one flight since the outrage over MH370 blew, while Xiamen Airlines has scrapped plans to increase flights connecting both countries.

There’s a suggestion now that the VMY 2014 road show in China that had been shelved to show our sympathy over the MH370 tragedy be launched next year.

So long as there is no closure to MH370, it’s illogical to continue campaigns in China due to the sensitivity of the issue.

If closure does come, resuming tourism campaigns in China will be a mammoth test: How do you convince the Chinese who distrust Malaysia to spend a vacation here?

As it stands, the China National Tourism Administration has said many travel agencies have changed the once popular “Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand” itinerary to a “Singapore-Vietnam-Thailand” due to the negative impression of Malaysia.

Yang Jinsong, a China Tourism Academy professor, said the slowdown in Chinese travel will seriously hurt Malaysia’s tourism industry and may continue for years.

It doesn’t help that the United States, Britain and Australia have not withdrawn their travel advisories, discouraging their citizens from visiting Sabah, particularly the eastern coast, following the recent kidnapping incidents.

It doesn’t help that the world will sneer at us if hudud laws come into force in Kelantan as global reaction will badly affect the whole country. 

Won’t the world infer that Kelantan is the first step toward the nation adopting such  law and keep back from foreign investments?

Any “Malaysia Recovery Plan” must take this into account if the nation wants to avoid a distressing effect on the economy.

Forget oil-rich Brunei. We must promise to protect Malaysia. If we fail to act or protest as a result of moral weakness or apathy, we will suffer for it.

Lying spread-eagled would be suicidally risky and all the righteous fury and moralising won’t get the job done on its own.

*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.