Malaysian Stories Of Hope And Kindness During The COVID-19 Outbreak

Check out how fellow Malaysians came together to spread positivity in the past 8 days since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was imposed on 18th of March, highlighting our local heroes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. #GRATITUDE

A security guard says a silent prayer in an almost still Kuala Lumpur on Day 6 of #MovementControlOrder pic.twitter.com/DGcjxTHmdh

— Jahabar Sadiq (@jsadiq) March 23, 2020

In the days and weeks ahead in Malaysia alone, we have witnessed an increase in the number of cases, casualties and states affected by this deadly virus.

Yet, these difficult times continue to bring out the best in all of us – from front liners in the healthcare industry putting their life on the line to treat patients in hospitals across the nation to the every day Malaysian caring for their own families as well as others in their community.

So when you see them, be sure to express gratitude (not with a handshake or a hug, mind you!) but with kind words for all they do during these difficult times.

Cue – Alanis Morissette’s chart-topping hit, Thank U!

Source: YouTube

Cleaning Crews

KLIA’s cleaning crew sanitizing trolleys during a recent media tour. Source: Free Malaysia Today.

In spite of the pandemic, cleaning crews everywhere, especially in the hospitals and airports, are working twice as hard to sanitise public spaces. When news broke that paediatric wards at the Selayang Hospital were closed after two of its personnel contracted COVID-19, it was the cleaning crew that got down to business to curb the spread of the virus with proper sanitization of the entire area!

Grocery Store Employees, Delivery Personnel, Bank Staff

Banks and local institutions offer financial assistance for customers affected by Covid-19 . Source: RinggitPlus

If you see a delivery guy or a grocery store employee hard at work, remember to say “thank you”. Without these unsung heroes, life in a period of social distancing may come to a standstill. Let’s be honest, if grocery store employees don’t go to work, those empty shelves will stay empty. If there are no banks operating, how are we to have access to our money?

Public Transport Drivers

Safety measures taken by Rapid KL to combat the spread of Covid-19. Source: RapidKL

As buses and trains continue to operate as usual, take a moment to be grateful for the drivers who work tirelessly to ensure we get to our destination safely in our time of need.

Emergency Medical Technicians & Practitioners

A healthcare worker with a public service announcement (PSA). Source: Ministry of Health, Malaysia.

Over the past few months, our emotions, attention and energy have been increasingly focused on the pandemic. We have been dealing with a lot of things from panic buying, deaths, lockdown and social distancing. Inevitably, we have neglected the crucial role played by medical practitioners and workers, whose presence is an important parameter in coping with a health crisis and large-scale epidemics. Yet, they are usually taken for granted. Despite possessing far more knowledge and skills than the layman, medical practitioners and workers are constantly exposed to infected individuals and the virus itself.

Which brings us to … Dentists who face a greater coronavirus risk (being 12 inches away from a patient’s mouth!). During this time, there may be emergency cases where patients still need to visit a dentist. Yet, it is business as usual for dentists!

Police and Armed Forces

The Cool Juice and World of Buzz, delivered cold-pressed juices to all major police stations in Klang Valley in appreciation of their hard work. Source: World of Buzz

Police officers and members of the armed forces are entrusted to ensure citizens strictly comply with the MCO. Their biggest challenge is dealing with people who do not follow the safety precautions, such as not to going out of the 10 km perimeter, wearing a face mask at all times, and only one person from each household is eligible to travel for purchasing essentials. In spite of six police personnel tested positive for Covid-19 while their 335 family members are waiting for test results, the police force is not giving up and going the extra mile to curb the spread of the virus through strict enforcement of the safety precautions!

And now for a “special breed” of unsung heroes worthy of a mention…

Household Pets

Having a pet in the home helps you respond better to stressful situations. Source: Antiusualist

Your furry friends are precious gifts in times of being physically apart from fellow human beings. Research suggests that pets can make us healthier, happier, less stressed and more productive at work. It’s true enough that pets keep us sane as we work from home amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Dogs, in particular, help us keep stick to a routine and be active, which is crucial to our physical and mental health during the MCO.

Even if you don’t have a pet at home, consider watching videos of pets – this could do the trick to lighten things up! Studies suggest that watching cat videos helps to boost energy and increases productivity. Meow!

I don't know how I can be expected to #WorkFromHome when my coworker just naps on the couch all day like an absolute CUTEY PIE#WFHPets pic.twitter.com/UHV1jOx5Ck

— Allanna Russell (@AllannaRussell) March 20, 2020

Technology/Cloud computing is a boon!

Time to make the best out of the technology at hand – Skype, Google Hangout or Zoom! Source: Shutterstock

It’s time to work from home, attend events virtually and explore all the remote wonders of cloud computing. This crucial time increases dependence on online applications and social media as we adjust to a new way of working and learning from home.

As offices and schools are closed, staying connected virtually has become a norm. Millions around the world try hard to remain productive and fight boredom by going online. Cloud computing has enabled e-learning, e-commerce, video conferencing, project collaboration, gaming, etc to meet the demands in a way that would have been nearly impossible a decade ago. In short, cloud services are definitely an unsung hero in enabling this massive, sudden shift to a remote-first workforce.

Watch this amazing video clip by Invigorate International (a social enterprise that raises awareness and creates opportunities for real-life heroes) paying tribute to the unsung heroes risking their lives combating COVID-19 head on to protect our fellow Malaysians.