But will Malaysia be more health conscious post-Covid-19? There is no choice. Ignoring health and hygiene means longer movement restrictions or even lockdowns. And deaths. Some Malaysians did display such errant behaviours when they refused to stay at home in the first two weeks of the Movement Control Order , compelling the government to extend the MCO. Flouting the law continues still. Even deaths seem not to deter them. Old habits die hard indeed.
So must the country. Malaysia’s health spending of RM30.6 billion in the 2020 Budget may be close to seven per cent more than the previous year, but Covid-19 is telling us that this isn’t enough. National insurance for all may require more. So will more hospitals, equipment and human resource. Perhaps, more money into medicine and less into MiGs and submarines will help. The problem is not Malaysia’s alone.