I woke up this morning and the view out the window was white-washed. It sure felt like I was up in the clouds but the faint choking smell in the air hinted otherwise – the haze is back with a vengeance and it looks like it will be here to stay for a while. While a yearly occurrence, this year’s seems especially bad.
PSI numbers went off the charts and easily trumped previous record highs. The burning smell’s so strong, it permeates through closed doors and windows; the perpetual stench probably best described as that from a smouldering campfire. This is a time when the streets and al fresco areas look almost post-apocalyptic.
Visual observations aside, it’s in times of crisises that the best and worst in humanity are brought out. Take the N95 masks for example. While there have been sharp criticisms against the bulk purchases of these masks, I think there is a need to examine the intentions of these buyers before jumping to conclusions.
It isn’t a big issue if these people are buying on behalf of their companies for the staff. There are also a handful philanthropic individuals who fork out money from their own pockets to purchase the masks for distribution to the poor and needy. Additionally, online communities have been formed to organize volunteers for such distributions or even offer air-conditioned sanctuaries for those in need. People in these groups ought to be commended and applauded.
In contrast, there are black sheeps who seek to profit from these bulk purchases – they hoard these masks so that they can sell them for exorbitant prices. While I believe in the laws of economics and that scarcity and desperation can lead to the creation of a black market in times of crisises, such act of profiteering is an ugly side of humanity that should’ve never seen the light of day.
Some are quick to pin this blame on the government. They suggest that the government should’ve release their stockpile of N95 masks earlier and levy purchase limits to prevent hoarders from driving up the prices. While I agree with the suggested measure in principle, I doubt it would do anything in alleviating the price inflation as supply is still ultimately limited.
Undoubtedly, the current situation is also a lesson in crisis management for our leaders as well as a test of their resolve and courage. With the haze showing no signs of abating, critics have denounced the lack of a concrete plan as inaction and the government’s talk as merely paying lip service. My view is that while keeping the public informed of how their displeasure have been conveyed is a move in the right direction, penmanship is not going to address their immediate concerns.
The situation could’ve been better managed. Case in point being that in pitting commercial interests against social welfare, the government had opted to release the nation’s stockpile of N95 masks through retail channels for purchase. Despite many urging for its free distribution in light of the severity of the crisis, these calls seem to have all but fallen on deaf ears.
Arguably, the protection of one’s health is one’s own responsibility. But considering the acute widespread shortages and unprecedented severity of the haze, the government could have considered distributing their inventories to families through the grassroots, or at least address the possibility of doing so. In this respect, I think the government has fallen short.
On the other hand, I’m with the government on its stance of there not being a need for an all-inclusive stop-work order. From an economic perspective, it’s impossible to declare a nationwide stop-work order without inflicting massive damage in the magnitude of billions to the economy. It is also not feasible when we consider critical and essential services that cannot be stopped like the fire department or hospitals.
However, on there being “no hard line” for when a stop-work order can be issued, the government has to be careful and avoid the slippery slope of prioritizing economic concerns over the safety and well-being of the workforce. In there being no tipping point, there exists the danger of work persisting till people start collapsing or are in need of medical attention.
Cubicle rats though have no right to complain because most are probably breathing cleaner air at work in their air-conditioned offices than at home. The people suffering the most are those who spend a large part of their working hours outdoors like construction workers and cleaners. Fortunately, we see the good side of humanity here as charitable strangers distribute masks to help these group of unsung labourers breathe a little better.
Honestly, it’s difficult for anyone, not just the government, to have the guts to call for work to be halted. There are many businesses out there that could potentially face hundreds of millions in losses even if they just stop work for a day. To be held accountable for these losses is not a responsibility that can be easily shouldered by any one single person. Therefore, on the part of businesses, the top management would have to use their own discretion as to where they should draw this line.
Under most business continuity plans, non-essential core activities can either be suspended or executed via telecommuting. This should help workers reduce unnecessary outdoor exposure. Indeed, quite a number of SMEs have allowed their employees to work from home though the same cannot be said about majority of MNCs. Perhaps only a prolonged crisis can spring them into action but there are definitely lessons to be learnt here.
Much as we blame the government or businesses for their lack of decisive action, we need to step back and look at the bigger picture before we start pointing fingers. Regardless of the measures taken, no matter how comprehensive, the haze problem is not one we can solve on our own. This is a crisis that we need to tackle at its roots. It is transboundary pollution. And until the day when we can truly eliminate the slash-and-burn technique or control weather patterns, we’ll continue to be at the mercy of our neighbours year after year.
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