APRIL 3 — Challenger and its allies first and foremost fully support the movement control order (MCO) and would like to emphasise its importance to the country’s health and public safety that all measures taken by the government regarding curbing the spread of Covid-19 be adhered to. We also applaud the immense sacrifice our officers are making by placing themselves in the frontlines while we battle this invisible enemy.

However, we would like to draw attention to the detentions of citizens during this time. One such case is that of a Sixth Form youth who was first remanded in Jeli, Kelantan and then detained in Marang, Terengganu. The youth in question comes from a low income family. After losing his father three months ago, his mother sold nasi bajet for a living. She has not been able to earn an income since the MCO and as a consequence, has not been able to pay for the RM 800 bail. We fear that in the time police stations are taking to adapt to the adhoc bureaucracy, he will be detained longer than necessary.

If the arbitrary detentions persist, this presents the more pressing public health problem of overcrowding in jails and detention centres, leading to possible incubation hotspots for the Covid-19 virus.

We were moved by the prime minister’s Covid-19 recovery stimulus package speech. Though, we hope that the care taken in the language chosen, especially using the "Mak Cik Kiah” example will not remain hypothetical. Mak Cik Kiah exists. But she may also have a sixth form son, who is being detained in Marang while having no access as of yet to the cash aid provided by the government.

On a larger scale, it is vulnerable Malaysians who will face the brunt of the authoritarian but necessary measures taken during the MCO. This blanket restriction of movement needs to be coupled with the absolute, unquestioning, protection of our vulnerable groups in ensuring they have access to food, shelter, and basic necessities before we can expect them to have the full capacity to follow the MCO. In tandem, we urgently call for PDRM to exercise humane, sensible judgment before issuing remand orders to vulnerable Malaysians.

Once again, we urge all able Malaysians to stay at home and provide full cooperation during this period of restricted movement.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.