By Mohsin Abdullah

On Boxing Day, Malaysia recorded 2,335 new COVID-19 cases, an all-time high of daily new infections at that point.

DAP's Lim Kit Siang saw that as "proof the present strategy has failed to check the runaway surge in the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic".

To former health minister Datuk Dzulkefly Ahmad, the new rule announced by health ministry director-general asking for COVID-19 patients without symptoms to be self quarantined at home "is a sign Malaysia is at the worst point of the pandemic thus far".

Granted both are from the opposition, thus coming up with unflattering observations of the government's actions are not uncommon. But personally, I would not brush off their remarks at the snap of fingers.

Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was quoted saying healthcare facilities have been overwhelmed as daily new infections continue to rise above 1,000.

He would later tone it down somewhat by saying that beds are still available at Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Sungai Buloh Hospital, both being COVID-19 hospitals in Klang Valley, and neither are the four quarantine centers in Klang Valley at maximum capacity yet.

And Noor Hisham went on to say that transportation delays are the reason for asking asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to undergo home quarantine.

However, the number of new cases are still above 1,000 a day. The whole of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya were reported to have been declared red zones. The conditional movement control order or CMCO in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Sabah and several localities in other states has been extended until Jan 14, 2021.

But it cannot be denied that the surge in cases came after the government allowed interstate and inter-district travels.

With the restrictions lifted, Malaysians are hitting the roads to go to holiday destinations to celebrate Christmas and New Year. Don't blame them as it's the government who gave permission in the first place.

Restrictions have also been lifted as far as in-house or restaurant dining is concerned, as well as for shopping and visiting places of interest.

True, the government's green light came with a reminder for the public to observe the SOPs. But to be honest, the SOPs we are now observing are just scanning the MySejahtera app to register our presence, take body temperature, sanitize our hands and yes, wear masks.

That's about it. Once inside the shops and at places of interest, social distancing is not really a priority.

Hence, we find people in droves here and there, crowding over each other. At major cities and especially favorite tourist (in this case local tourist) destinations, occupancy at hotels, even starred ones, are said to be 100% taken up. Restaurants and other eateries are drawing in customers.

This is definitely good. What with all the gloom since March!

Perhaps, spurred by such "encouraging signs", even our sports authorities are saying starting January 4, some 700 national athletes can resume training in full force and not just a quarantine-based training stint.

The tourism minister is on record saying the government is considering opening our borders to boost tourism. Well and good!

However, in allowing people to travel freely, senior minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has declared that mass gatherings to usher in the New Year are not allowed as the risk of spreading COVID-19 is high and "it will be hard for people to practice physical distancing and it would be difficult to control the crowd".

You can't deny that. But at the same time, it can't be denied also that there are contradictory remarks and actions made by the government, like people can go freely to places of interest but should not crowd.

At the same time, Ismail is quoted saying there is no proposal to reimpose interstate or inter-district travel restrictions.

He said the decision on the matter will depend on views and advice from the health ministry.

The health ministry, on its part, has wanted a full movement control order implemented to check a third wave of COVID-19, according to Noor Hisham as quoted by news portal FMT.

However, said the health DG, a conditional movement control order was put in place because of "the huge impact the MCO would have on the economy". Noor Hisham is spot on with regards to the economy.

Hence, I would not go to the extent of saying the government has lost its plot but instead say it is finding it hard to balance between health and economic woes.

To be fair, to Putrajaya, it is no easy feat to strike the right balance during the pandemic.

I recall watching a news report on Al Jazzera months ago when India was about to impose a strict lockdown. A man interviewed by the news team said he would not abide by the lockdown as he needed to go out and find work.

"For me if the virus does not kill me, the economy will." he said.

Sad, but a reality which is relevant to us here in Malaysia.

Now for the big question: What should the government do? And how?

To DAP's Lim, "It's time for an all-of-government and whole-of-society strategy approach."

Just what is the veteran politician talking about? What exactly is "all-of-government" and "whole-of-society" strategy?

Perhaps the government would want to have a chat with him to find out more? After all, fighting a war against a common enemy as big and frightening as COVID-19, political differences can be put aside. Right?

(Mohsin Abdullah is a veteran journalist and now a freelancer who writes about this, that and everything else.)