Malaysia praised for quick response and strict measures in COVID-19 fight
Image adapted from: Noor Hisham Abdullah
Malaysians have no doubt been waving around that Malaysian boleh flag recently. From recovery rates exceeding new COVID-19 cases to increases in green zones, our battle against COVID-19 seems to be going well with doubled efforts from frontliners and many diligently adhering to the Movement Control Order (MCO).
So while the pandemic is not over yet, many can take heart in these wins because Malaysia’s response to COVID-19 has now gained international recognition – the World Health Organisation (WHO) has applauded Malaysia’s response in tackling the virus, as well as an American YouTuber and dental surgeon with praise for our MCO that has gone viral online.
According to a report by Free Malaysia Today on 11th May 2020, WHO’s Head of Mission and Representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore applauded Malaysia’s management of COVID-19.
We’ve conducted mass screenings on high-risk groups nationwide, with frontliners in KL going above and beyond by even carrying the elderly to get tested for the virus.
The way that Malaysia carried out its MCO orders in phases was also highlighted by WHO, with safety measures put in place to effectively tackle the prevalent issues on hand at each turn. This helped us see a dip in new cases with each additional phase.
Malaysia’s response to COVID-19 fight has also won the praise of many outside the country offline and online, with an American professor saying that the US should even take a leaf from our book.
The people who have praised our response now also include YouTuber and American dental surgeon, Dustin Pfundheller. A recent video he posted on Facebook called “Malaysia’s Incredible Covid-19 Story” has now gone viral with over 49,000 reactions and 52,000 shares.
In the video, he highlighted that the spike in cases in Malaysia in March 2020 didn’t come from partying or bad behaviour, but from a religious gathering.
He goes on to praise our quick response to it, including phases implemented for MCO and Enhanced MCO for areas with reported cases. This helped us see a significant drop in the number of reported COVID-19 cases, with Malaysia now no longer having the most COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia.
He also cites us as an example of how “we can all overcome this” by responding quickly in the COVID-19 fight that has now affected over 200 countries.
While many have been feeling the weight of the extension of the MCO, it’s shown to be effective so far, with reported COVID-19 cases dropping since its implementation. So with frontliners continuing to work hard while we stick to social distancing and practice good personal hygiene, we can keep new COVID-19 cases at a low and finally have virus-free streets for all.
Source: The Smart Local Malaysia
shahizam.f@mhtc.org.my
Muhammad Rasydan Ma’at
Asst. Manager, Communications
+603 8776 6168
rasydan.m@mhtc.org.my
Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), established in 2009 under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, is entrusted with developing and nurturing the “Malaysia Healthcare” brand. MHTC enhances, coordinates, and promotes Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry by fostering industry collaborations and building valuable public-private partnerships both domestically and internationally. With 80 member hospitals nationwide, MHTC continues to elevate the healthcare travel ecosystem through strong branding, seamless patient experiences, and strategic market initiatives. In line with these efforts, MHTC is spearheading the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, the nation’s first dedicated year to celebrate and advance healthcare travel. MYMT 2026 serves as a milestone initiative to showcase Malaysia’s world-class healthcare offerings, strengthen its position as the premier global healthcare destination, and highlight the industry’s significant contribution to the national economy. More information can be found at https://www.mhtc.org.my/.
