LIKE any other countries in the world, Malaysia is facing one of the toughest periods of all times.
The country is still struggling to contain the Covid-19 infection since the pandemic hit Malaysia almost two years ago.
Penang Governor Tun Dato’ Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak said the emergence of new Covid-19 variants in Malaysia, such as the Delta variant, is of great concern.
“It seems like a full return to normal may not be possible and this has been admitted by several local and foreign health experts. It is believed that the virus will not just go away.
“We are forced to live with Covid-19, just as how we had lived with other illnesses such as the common flu.
“The pandemic has caused significant impact to the lives and livelihoods of the people,” he said during an exclusive interview on Sunday (Aug 8) to mark his first 100 days as the Penang Governor.
Ahmad Fuzi, 72, said his own family had two close encounters with Covid-19.
“My daughter lives overseas with her husband.
“My son-in-law got infected in his workplace. Being asymptomatic and without realising that he was infected, my daughter caught the virus from her husband.
“My wife and I were very concerned because we were not able to visit them. We were completely helpless and there was nothing we could do about it.
“Fortunately, after being quarantined at home, both my daughter and son-in-law recovered from Covid-19,” he said.
The second close encounter involved Ahmad Fuzi’s nephew who contracted the virus also from his workplace.
“He infected his wife who was eight months pregnant. They got married last year.
“The wife was sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital. My nephew was diagnosed with Covid-19 Stage Four.
“He became critical and had to be intubated. He was admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital.
“The wife underwent caesarian and subsequently recovered from the virus. The baby too was born safely. We really thank God for that!
“My nephew fortunately also recovered from Covid-19,” he said.
Ahmad Fuzi said it was heartbreaking to read about the tragic stories of the victims of Covid-19.
“Some could only say their final goodbyes through the phone. The danger of Covid-19 is real,” he added.
“Early on we thought that the virus would only affect other people. But that’s no longer the case. Almost everybody now knows a friend or relative who has either died or been infected by Covid-19,” he said.
Ahmad Fuzi urged the people to stay united.
“At times like these, we should stay united and support the government’s efforts to combat the pandemic.
“The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) must not be taken lightly as they can prevent further infection and save lives when we do our part,” he said.
Ahmad Fuzi praised the efforts by the state government, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals in helping the needy during this difficult period.
“As we know, many people are affected by the pandemic. Some are forced to fly the ‘white flag’ to get food and other assistance. It is more saddening to see some people taking their own lives due to depression.
“I believe that all types of assistance are needed and should be provided in accordance with the capacity of the government and the aid providers.
“It is difficult to fully satisfy the needs of the people. No Government or individuals can actually do so. It may also be a big challenge for continuous aid to be provided to those in need considering the limited resources available.
“Hence, the focus should be to put an end to the Covid-19 pandemic as soon as possible. The vaccination programme must be accelerated and the people must always abide by the SOPs. I also appreciate the calls made by some experts for the vaccination to be made mandatory,” he said.
He also commended the frontliners for their hard work and personal sacrifice in helping those contracted with the virus.
Ahmad Fuzi said that Penang is fortunate.
“Penang is strategically located, it is politically stable with a highly skilled workforce. The Penangites also have a high aspiration to achieve progress, in line with the State’s Penang2030 vision.
“The Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’ is commendably comprehensive whilst being very much in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG),” he added.
In his role as the new Governor, Ahmad Fuzi said he hoped to do his level best to meet the expectations and goals of the government and people of Penang.
“I believe in working hard and working smart.
“I do not have an executive function but a clearly defined constitutional role that I am expected to perform.
“But I do believe I have the power to exercise the right of influence and presence, which if judiciously applied, will allow me to undertake appropriate initiatives for the benefit of Penang.
“For me, returning back to live again in Penang after a long break has been very exciting,” Ahmad Fuzi, who was born in Sungai Bakap, said.
He said that since assuming office, he had met Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, State Executive Council members, the State Secretary, Penang Mufti, High Court Judges, Head of Federal and State agencies as well as leaders in the private sector and NGOs to be briefed and to learn more about current developments, programmes, and future plans in Penang.
“The meeting process is still ongoing,” he added.
Ahmad Fuzi was formerly secretary-general of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. He joined the Malaysian Diplomatic and Administrative Service in 1972 and served for 37 years in various capacities in the Foreign Affairs Ministry until 2009.
He had also served at Malaysian missions abroad in Moscow, The Hague, Canberra, Washington and Dhaka.
Ahmad Fuzi said: “The years that I spent in the village in Sungai Bakap when I was young, taught me how to appreciate living a simple life.”
“I have many sweet memories playing with my friends in the kampung. We enjoyed playing kampung games which are no longer popular now.
“When we were young, we just had to climb trees to enjoy the fruits that we wanted to eat,” he said.
Ahmad Fuzi said that working at the Foreign Ministry and overseas taught him lifelong diplomatic and administrative skills including the art of negotiation that put him in good stead after retirement when he became more involved with NGOs and the private sector.
“I am grateful for the international exposure received as a career diplomat which allowed me to travel and live overseas. There were many useful lessons learnt, both good and bad. Some of the experience and knowledge gained could be usefully applied or adapted back home as considered appropriate.
“It is important to see things objectively and professionally and adopt best practices learned abroad which can benefit Penang,” he said.
He expressed his hope for Penang to be one of the earlier states to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic through vaccination.
“I look forward to seeing the transformation of Penang into a green, modern and fully developed state in the post-pandemic period.
“It is also my hope that Penang will play a leading role in efforts to promote national unity in the country by being a model State worth emulating,” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar