Online Learning

11^th October 2021

Like most other sectors, and many other countries, Covid-19 has exposed the inequalities underlying internet access in this country particularly in Sarawak and has affected schooling activities tremendously. Not only do rural students and urban students found themselves on the opposite sides of the digital divide, the gap also exists among urban students of different economic backgrounds. The authorities have been hyping on online lectures as a viable substitute but the unequal and intermittent access has meant the experience is vastly different depending on location and household income. This is particularly important from the standpoint of the student whose quality on doing online lectures hinges on the mobile versus the laptop or personal computer, as well as good home support to handle online education.

For the less fortunate, they don’t have home wi-fi, rely on the mobile phone’s 4G signal at best which is not equally reachable nor reliable from all, leaving some studying in unimaginable places and deprived conditions in order to join classes online. For most in the rural areas, erratic electricity supply is another major problem and this can affect not only observing and listening to their teachers, but also watching videos, downloading or even keeping the phone charged. The student’s ability to partake and engage with their teachers and peers depends on the number of devices the household has, the quality of the device, the connectivity and the timing of the lectures.

Other issues that may crop up include is teaching excellence more important than how lessons are delivered? will the absence of peer interaction deprive motivation and retard learning outcomes? Will not different approaches to online learning be necessary to meet different types of content and pupils? The question therefore has moved from whether a student can access the internet to how does the student do it; from a question of whether the teacher alleviates the education divide or inadvertently deepen it; which begs the final question whether online education is a fair option at all.

EPF Withdrawal: Is This the Right Course of Action?

20^th September 2021

Numerous assistance programmes and policies that have been introduced since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic to lessen the burden on the rakyat. However, one of the more controversial ones, especially at its introduction were those allowing people to withdraw funds from their EPF savings.

Under the i-Sinar program, it was announced that EPF contributors with savings below RM100,000 could withdraw up to RM10,000 from Account 1 savings, while those with savings above RM100,000 are allowed to withdraw up to 10 per cent of their Account 1 savings, capped at RM 60,000. This was followed by the i-Citra program in July 2021 that allowed withdrawals of up to RM5,000. To date, EPF has 14.6 million active contributors and 530,000 employers with a total managed fund of RM940 billion.¹ Despite these impressive figures, as many as 54 per cent of contributors above the age of 54 have savings of less than RM50,000 for retirement. This is substantially less than the minimum of RM228,000 target set by EPF in 2017. ²

The decision to allow access to personal funds meant for retirement has come under fire from many quarters. Many are concerned that allowing such withdrawals during understandably difficult circumstances will further deplete already low retirement savings. This is essentially trading long term security for short term gains. At a macro level, there is also concern that a wave of withdrawals will impact EPF’s financial resource which could affect dividend payouts and missed investment opportunities needed to grow contributors’ savings. Prior to this, government aid has been dispensed at federal and state levels through various channels such as wage subsidies, loan moratoriums and more direct forms of financial aid such as Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) and Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS). The extent of the effectiveness of these policies is yet to be known.

The EPF has moved to quell concerns on outflow due to withdrawals by claiming that they have been preparing for withdrawals since the outbreak earlier this year and had prepared for it by increasing cash levels. In the case of portfolio rebalancing, EPF stated it would look into its liquid assets to cater for withdrawal. While this is superficially reassuring, this brings into question the long-term financial viability of the country’s largest pension fund. Given the fact that there has been other policy prescriptions and direct financial aid to address the financial impact of the pandemic, is this EPF withdrawal initiative the best course of action? How will this directly impact the post retirement finances of those who decided to dip into their enforced savings? These are hard questions not only because these are hard times, but they are exceedingly necessary to ensure that the right policies are used to confront the challenges brought on by this pandemic.

Suicide On the Rise: Who Should Be Responsible?

06^th September 2021

WHO (2019) estimates that 703,000 people die by suicide every year mostly in low- and middle-income countries. It is the 17th leading cause of death in 2019 with a rate of one person every 40 seconds.

Since the Covid pandemic started, there have been a reported increase in suicide cases and suicide attempts in the country. During the first Movement Control Order (MCO) last year, 266 people committed suicide with 25 per cent of the cases associated with debts, followed by family problems and marital issues, both at 24 per cent and 23 per cent respectively. The first three months of this year saw 336 cases with an average of four suicide cases every day. Penang alone recorded 53 cases and 19 attempts in the first five months.

With another round of MCO under the National Recovery Plan (NRP), there are likely to be more suicides if no serious action is taken immediately. Finance is not the only concern as loneliness and not being able to be with loved ones is becoming the greater challenge. For instance, last year a Malaysian stranded in Singapore jumped off his apartment, depressed due to a heavy workload, apart from missing his family after almost eight months.

In general, financial assistance is easier to obtain compared to intrapersonal issues related to emotions and feelings because no one can help unless the person comes forward to tell what he/she is going through. Of course, there are channels and organizations specialized in assisting this group such as Befrienders Malaysia, but it is uncertain whether their existence is known to the public. Many countries consider both attempted suicide and suicide as a crime, and this may prevent suicidal individuals from coming forward to seek help fearing legal action.

The big question is, should we blame the person himself for not being mentally strong enough? Or is it the family members and immediate community that are insensitive? Or the government for not taking the issue seriously? The bottom line is what should be done to prevent it? And who by?

Reference:

• https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
• https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/06/29/a-shocking-statistic-four-suicide-cases-a-day-in-2021/
• https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide
• https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/21/penang-recorded-19-attempted-suicide-attempts-from-january-to-may-this-year

Impact of Job Losses

23^rd August 2021

The Movement Control Order 3.0 earlier this year has culminated in the White Flag Campaign where people publicly air their needs for food assistance. Although NGOs and individuals have risen to the occasion and responded speedily, many wonder how long this problem will continue. As reported by the media, many who require this assistance are families whose breadwinners have recently been laid off from work or are unable to continue their business.

The Department of Statistics (DOSM) reported that for May 2021, the number of unemployed persons stood at 728,100 as compared to 826,000 the previous year. While it may seem like an improvement, the national unemployment rate still stands at 4.5% as of May 2021 (latest available data), a rate not seen since the 1998 global economic recession. Understandably, this COVID-19 pandemic has been a big contributor to the rise of unemployment, with the various levels of movement control orders affecting industries and businesses, forcing employers to lay off workers, impose salary reductions, or work on contract-basis.

Given this statistical context, does it mean that the Federal Government’s economic recovery steps to boost employment through its PEMERKASA and PEMULIH strategies have failed? Or have they yet to deliver? And should not a more workable programme (food coupons, fixed weekly/monthly aid distribution, etc.) be designed to ensure that those who are in need of aid are not cut off suddenly until they get employed again? The sudden change in government will hopefully bring in new impetus to soften the economic impact among the unemployed.

TVET: Time for A Renewed Push

2nd August 2021

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is one of the central components necessary in transforming the country’s economy into a high tech, Industrial Revolution 4.0 based economy. However, the march towards such modernisation has been fraught with challenges. For starters 25 per cent of all jobs in Malaysia are skill based, far lower than the 40 per cent in developed countries. Also, at its very base, only 10 to 15 per cent of secondary school students in Malaysia are opting for further education in TVET. In a webinar in December of last year, titled Budget 2021: 6 Billion Reasons to Disrupt TVET, industry speakers pointed to a strong need for streamlining and the importance of shifting TVET training to the private sector.

The webinar also discussed the much celebrated German model of TVET where a vast majority of training is hands on, in the field and paid for the training period. While the model proved to be effective in the German context, Daniel Bernbeck, CEO of the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that countries such as the United States and China overcame their TVET challenges by building up their own approach into a more demand driven, innovative model. The German model cannot be copied wholesale, as it is not a “plug and play” model. This is an excellent, though concerning point, as this makes the TVET mountain that Malaysia has to climb even steeper – the country will have to fix its already pressing issues while developing a model that will propel it to the next stage. Also discussed was the need for industry to be the one drafting TVET curriculum and not the government. They also lamented the dissolution of the TVET Commission which was consulting industries, and was empowered to craft policy. The speakers also opined that seven ministries each with their own syllabus and systems were inefficient and did not meet the needs of industry. Furthermore, the curriculum was archaic and outdated, taught by educators who are not in touch with contemporary industry knowledge and trends.

These perspectives by the industry should be taken seriously by the government as they are most directly involved with economic growth and know what they need. As such, proper and thorough consultation with them needs to be a cornerstone of any TVET policy. After all, it would be unwise not to leverage the expertise and experience of industry. This issue points to the need of a stakeholder consultation mechanism or platform similar to the previous TVET Commission, one that is empowered, especially from a policy perspective. And while there are calls by industry to place education and training solely in their hands, this should be examined carefully to ensure it is in line with TVET national policy goals and priorities. While there were interesting insights generated at the webinar, many also concluded that the implementation of remedies to the challenges to TVET in Malaysia would mean little without the political will to do what is necessary. That is the final piece of the puzzle.

What therefore can the immediate community or close family members do in addressing this issue? And what help and action can the authorities, both government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) offer in defending, protecting, assisting, and supporting these victims? Perhaps, a more concerted effort is needed to explain and create greater awareness to convince victims to come forward and tell their stories, and to make society stop remaining silent which indirectly protects the perpetrators.

The M1 of the M40 group

05th July 2021

The sudden loss of a job or income has become real during this pandemic and according to SOCSO, 89,596 cases of lost employment were reported as of October 2020 in Malaysia, an average of nearly 10,000 cases every month. The same organization has also reported that the professional category is the most affected particularly those in the middle positions. While much assistance has been provided to the most vulnerable groups especially the B40, little attention has been given to those in the M40 especially the ones in band M1 whose income just surpassed the B40 threshold, earning range between RM3,720-RM4,850. Just under two-fifths, or 38.3 per cent, of households in Sarawak belong to the M40 group i.e. those earning between RM3,720 to RM8,649 per month while almost half (45.1%) are T20 (RM8,650 and above). While the remainder or less than a fifth (16.6%) belong to the B40 group.

Under the recent 2021 budget, RM10 billion was allocated by the Federal Government to assist the M40 households on top of an increase in individual tax relief and contribution to Employee Provident Fund (EPF) as well as targeted moratorium for this M40 group. In early 2020, the government under Bantuan Prihatin Nasional also gave a RM1,000 one-off assistance to the M40 group, plus another RM600 in September. In Sarawak, there is no specific aid for the M40 and the Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) assistance is mainly geared for the B40 group.

It is understandable that a lot of attention need to be given to the B40 group since they are the most vulnerable group in a downward economy. Nevertheless, the government should also give greater consideration to the M40 households especially those in Band M1 as their situation is also very fluid and volatile. The predicament faced by this band M1 M40 is severe as most of them reside in the urban area where the cost of living is high and the prospect of losing a job can happen overnight. The pandemic is worsening and the number of positive cases is increasing daily and spreading fast in the community. If the trend continues those in band M1 of the M40 will be the next cluster of employees that need to be helped. At this moment we may not even have a comprehensive data on this group which is important if and when we need to set immediate programmes or assistance for them.
Efforts must be made to counter all this negativity in order to at least keep it in check before it gets out of control. The emotional and psychological pressures that people face during this MCO, made worse by the authorities’ poor handling of the pandemic, can make them very vulnerable. Lack of support and poor motivation from relevant parties can lead to unexpected reactions that could adversely affect the peace and harmony in the State.

Pandemic Crisis: Domestic Violence in Malaysia

19^th July 2021

Domestic violence is defined as “a pattern of violence, abuse, or intimidation used to control or maintain power over a partner who is or has been in an intimate relationship”. It occurs in a myriad of forms such as physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, social, and financial abuse[1]. Domestic violence is not a new social phenomenon. Indeed, it is a global issue that can happen anywhere at any given time.

Undeniably, the COVID-19 outbreak is also a major contributor to the recent increase in domestic violence cases the world over where almost a quarter of the world’s population has been under movement restriction or lockdown. For instance, the United Kingdom (UK), recorded a 32 per cent increase in complaints on domestic violence over this period; while in France the highest reported cases was in Paris, at 36 per cent[2].

In Malaysia, there has also been an increase in the cases of domestic violence reported in the media since the introduction of the Movement Control Order (MCO). The Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) stated that it had received 1,442 calls via hotline, 1,496 complaints through the WhatsApp application and short messaging system (SMS) relating to domestic violence in 2020 compared to only 579 calls and 816 complaints in 2019[3]; an increase of 284 per cent and 83.4 per cent respectively. Among the possible reasons for the rise include; the likelihood of conflict increases as both perpetrators and victims spend more time together while other factors encompass financial difficulties and unconducive living conditions[4].

Many believe that this significant increase in the number of complaints received is just the tip of the iceberg and reported only because the victims were trapped with their abusers without respite throughout the MCO. But more sinister, it may also indicate that this issue is still not taken seriously by both society and the authorities; resulting in many cases going unreported despite the many platforms that have been put in place to allow victims to file complaints.

Or, is it because the victims did not come forward because they feel embarrassed? Or they are afraid they may not be believed? Or they don’t want to bring shame to the family? Or they are ignorant of the many avenues available for them to seek help? For the many non-working victims, a marital break-up is a consequence many will not bear especially if they have children and also, circumstances under the MCO make it even more unthinkable to get out there and survive on one’s own with children. Or simply because they worry, they may be stigmatised.

What therefore can the immediate community or close family members do in addressing this issue? And what help and action can the authorities, both government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) offer in defending, protecting, assisting, and supporting these victims? Perhaps, a more concerted effort is needed to explain and create greater awareness to convince victims to come forward and tell their stories, and to make society stop remaining silent which indirectly protects the perpetrators.

[1] https://wao.org.my/
[2] http://covid19.kk.usm.my/index.php/artikel/bacaan-umum/30-kesejahteraan-rumah-tangga-semasa-perintah-kawalan-pergerakan
[3] https://malaysiagazette.com/2021/02/20/wao-terima-banyak-aduan-keganasan-rumah-tangga-sepanjang-pkp/
[4] Dr. Firdaus Abdul Gani, Secretary of the Malaysian Psychiatric Association (MPA), https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/mengapa-kes-keganasan-rumah-tangga-meningkat-semasa-pkp-236528

Unity in Sarawak: Is it just a mirage?

Sarawak is recognized as an example of unity in Malaysia. It is a peaceful multicultural and multi-ethnic state with 2.8 million people comprising 27 different ethnic groups. This racial and cultural diversity is showcased as a symbol of solidarity, harmony and strength of the people in the State and touted as the best model for a multi-ethnic society to enjoy the prosperity of living together. In 2015, its capital Kuching became the first city in the world to be proclaimed as a ‘City of Unity’.

The advent of the internet and the widespread use of the social media may pose new challenges and threats to accepted norms. Unfiltered information and messages that are being viralled without ‘check and balance’ can create tension to the peace and harmony of any society, even one that is educated and well informed. This is especially so in a country with political uncertainties, where unity can be severely tested as citizens start to have blinkered perceptions and share their sensitive comments against each other online.

Sarawak have not been shielded from this experience as local netizens are found to have argued as well as posted and reacted insensitively on all social media platforms touching on issues termed social deficits in the New National Policy. This Policy identifies 10 social deficits that should be looked into in order to have a more united Malaysia; and they are ethnicity, religion, social class, education, language, generation gap, gender, federalism politics, urban rural space and the media. Social deficits in this context can also be interpreted as issues that, if mishandled can break up a country.

How susceptible is Sarawak’s unity in the face of to this new media onslaught? Will it be strong enough to weather it off and move on and be stronger? Is this friction just a reaction to the antagonistic tones expressed by netizens in the social media? Or is it because the feelings have always been there kept simmering underneath all this while?

Efforts must be made to counter all this negativity in order to at least keep it in check before it gets out of control. The emotional and psychological pressures that people face during this MCO, made worse by the authorities’ poor handling of the pandemic, can make them very vulnerable. Lack of support and poor motivation from relevant parties can lead to unexpected reactions that could adversely affect the peace and harmony in the State.

COVID-19: Unemployment Trends in Malaysia

It’s a year since Malaysia was hit by the coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak which was first detected in mid-December in the city of Wuhan, China. Since then, all sectors of life were affected and a number of measures have been put in place to mitigate the impact. One of the most significant economic impact is a massive increase in unemployment. According to the Deputy Human Resources Minister, a total of 99,696 workers were laid off between January and November 2020 and these include highly skilled workers comprising managers (13,109 people), professionals (26,079 people), technicians and associate professionals (19,095 people). Among the reasons he quoted include the closure of businesses, downsizing, Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS), Mutual Agreement Separation Scheme (MSS), critical financial problems, partial closures, and takeover of companies and relocation.

However, since the past few month, the unemployment rate has improved compared to the beginning of the outbreak where the rate recorded was lower than expected. This was in response to the initial government’s proactive measures that allocated a number of assistance to reduce the burden of the people and the heavily affected industry. These include providing wage subsidies to employers, enabling them to continue their business activities as usual. The loosening up of the MCO has also allowed business activities to pick up.

The crucial question remains and that is what is going to happen to the large number of laid off workers? Although the Government has committed funds to assist these people how effective will they be in terms of ensuring they get hired? Employers will also have control of the job market by offering low wages to the many experienced but unemployed workers who once commanded high salaries. The fate of young job seekers including graduates and soon to be graduates looks worse as they now have to compete with older experienced job seekers.

The government has to think about creating enough job opportunities in the country to accommodate these groups. If the issue is not properly managed there will be a mismatch between demand and supply and may lead to serious institutional unemployment.

COVID-19 Reality: Loan Moratorium vs Targeted Repayment Assistance

“Loan moratorium” has been a buzz phrase since March 2020 when the MCO was first implemented, triggering jitters among Malaysians who were bracing for pay-cuts, lay-offs, or poor returns of sales. The Federal Government announced an automatic 6-month moratorium for all loan repayments beginning 1 April 2020; unless the borrower decides to not accept the moratorium. This measure was aimed to relieve the monthly burden of individuals as well as businesses, to free-up cash flow from bank debts for a period of time. The moratorium was well received by many and even businesses supported the measure that helped minimised the effects on retail spending. After the 6-month period, the Federal Government took the next step to announce the Targeted Repayment Assistance (TRA).

Although the general scheme in the TRA is also a moratorium on loan repayments, the emphasis was more on the targeted nature of the assistance rather than it being automatically blanketed like the previous one. Announcement of the TRA was met with mixed reactions where some voiced out their hopes that the earlier moratorium should be maintained and continued while others raised the issue that such a moratorium would incur heavy losses to the banking sector. Other points of concern include the unclear performance of the banking industry (few reports or indicators on profit or losses), the need for a blanketed moratorium, unclear impact of the 6-month moratorium on retail spending power, and the politicisation of the issue by certain quarters for easy brownie points.

Some questions to ponder would be how much has the moratorium on loan repayments affected the banks? How much impact has the moratorium on loan repayments affect retail spending power? Looking ahead, what are the impacts of the moratorium on the banks and retail spending power as the pandemic gains momentum?