Governments do have a moral dilemma — lives or livelihoods? But it does not have to be that way if we take a dual-track approach that strikes a balance between health and economics.

But as the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 casts a long shadow over how we live, work and play, hundreds of corporations big and small, in government agencies as well as private sector, have suspended biometric attendance in recent weeks.

On April 10, 2020, the Companies Commission of Malaysia firstly increased of the prescribed amount for the statutory demand to RM50,000. This debt threshold is not particularly high, especially for larger businesses. I do not expect this increased amount to make a significant difference for companies in debt.

Secondly, there was an amendment of the 21-day period in the CA 2016. The minister has substituted this for a six-month period. So, a debtor company now has a six-month window before there is an actual filing of the winding-up petition.

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) projected that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to be between -2% and 0.5% this year amid expectation that economic activities will pick up in the second half of the year.

For example, if there is a burst water tank, how can the strata dwellers cope during the MCO period without water?

The air-conditioning and lights in your “home office” are always switched on now as you try to get it as cool and as bright as your normal office but then you are constantly reminded that the one paying the electricity bill is, YOU.

Getting out of the downturn this time around could be more difficult as it involves a major public health issue that is the Covid-19 pandemic, which has, together with other economic issues, impacted the economy not just in the country but globally.  Estimations on economic recovery range from months to years, and similarly, the property market would possibly enter into a down cycle before recovering.

During such unprecedented times, many in the food business in particular are quickly taking the delivery route for the first time.

This scenario, playing out in real time in front of our eyes, raises an important and very real question — can a person suspected of being infected with the COVID-19 virus, or someone who has had contact with an infected person, be compelled to be tested for the virus despite his reluctance or outright refusal?  

Essential services, which include supply of utilities, cleaning, security, sewerage, mechanical and electrical, must not be disrupted.

Hence, industry stakeholders must be adequately armed with proactive measures to keep the risk of virus exposure to a minimum, especially in premises such as shopping malls and office buildings where the public will access for essential services.