CONTINUE TO FIX OUR EYES ON GOD

It’s been almost 25 years since I was a student at the Seminary in Penang. I still recall going out to get my meals from a particular restaurant along Jalan Fettes in Tanjung Tokong called “No Eyed Deer” on Sundays and on public holidays when the kitchen at the Seminary was closed. I was really fascinated with the name of this restaurant and I understood it as – if one had “no idea” what to eat or where to eat – one just needed to go to this restaurant and would certainly find something to whet their appetite.

 

Similarly on Tuesday, 27 July 2021, The Star daily newspaper splashed the headline “Eye On Target” with a half-page photograph of the Malaysian Prime Minister along with several Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Dewan Rakyat, as they lamented on the National Recovery Plan. I read the headline as “PM is on Target’ and “Present Malaysian Government is on the Target” and I believe that they are! All eyes (especially those of the opposition party) are on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and members of his Cabinet. The rakyat are keeping a close watch on the present ruling party, which is highly ineffective, especially in tackling the Covid pandemic and the vaccination roll-out program.

 

The Dewan Rakyat was opened for the first time this year on Monday, 26 July 2021 after a state of emergency was declared in March 2021. The MPs met mainly to discuss the grave emergency threatening national security, how to flatten the pandemic curve, the economy, and other issues surrounding the COVID-19 situation in our nation. The rakyat has made it very clear that they are totally dissatisfied with the way the ruling alliance has handled the pandemic - including its action plan and vaccination efforts. It has become very difficult for the people to endure repeated restrictions as new COVID-19 variants emerge, especially with constantly changing SOPs. 

 

The cases of infections and deaths have sky-rocketed in recent weeks, and despite being in total lockdown, the number of cases seem to be on the rise each passing day. Lockdowns have been weak and improperly managed, and the rakyat are suffering for this. The MCO has been extended till the end of the year and many local and foreign workers have lost their jobs. Many others are faced with reduced work hours and salary cuts, making it near impossible to make ends meet. News of inefficient vaccination processes, with alarming reports of “empty syringes” being administered has shocked and appalled the nation.

We’re all rather tired of the restrictions and constant changes in relation to SOPs by the authorities. Frontliners are burnt out and the prolonged lockdown has taken a toll on the emotional, physical, mental, psychological and spiritual well-being of the rakyat. We can’t help but ask ourselves - how long more will we have to face these challenges? Will we have a more committed, accountable and transparent government?  

 

Answers to these questions can only be attained in due time. So, until then, let us continue to fix our eyes on God and be connected with one another. “Our endurance brings acceptance, acceptance brings hope and hope doesn’t disappoint us, for God has poured His love and mercy into our hearts,” (cf. Rom 5: 3-5).