In Petaling Jaya, the Health Ministry has been advised to exercise caution in sharing information about Covid-19 to avoid causing unnecessary panic and negatively impacting the country’s economic and tourism recovery. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing expressed concern over the potential for the daily reporting of Covid-19 cases to create unfounded fear among the public.
Tiong urged the Health Minister to consider the potential impact on the country’s economy and tourism, and to ensure that information about the latest developments are communicated accurately to avoid misconceptions and unwarranted panic. Tiong made this statement on his Facebook page yesterday, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and intensifying preventive measures without causing unnecessary alarm.
While acknowledging the significance of addressing the public health issue of Covid-19, Tiong emphasized the need to avoid overreacting and exacerbating the situation. He also pointed out that Indonesia has not expressed significant concern about the Covid-19 situation during the Christmas and New Year season, in contrast to Malaysia.
Tiong cautioned that the disparity in statements between the two countries’ health ministers could lead to the perception that Malaysia is more “dangerous” than Indonesia, potentially deterring tourists from visiting Malaysia. He noted that foreign tour operators have reported cancellations for Malaysia travel bookings, indicating the potential economic losses the country could suffer.
Tiong pledged to address this concern in the Cabinet and seek a balanced solution that would effectively curb the spread of the virus without adversely affecting the tourism sector.
