Even before the announcement by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin of the new measures that the government would take to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the community, the term “MCO 2.0” was trending on social media. With some knowledge of what to expect, individuals and businesses alike should seek out the opportunities during this crisis – the proverbial silver lining that comes with solving problems for consumers during challenging times.
Moving forward, what are the strategies that will grow the economy during this critical time of disruption? To understand this there is a need to look at the recent lessons learnt from “MCO 1.0”, which turned out to be a good teacher. Hindsight is 2020 and last year is purpose fit for the task.
In the first few days of the MCO 1.0, it was clear that the strategic approach driving the overall thinking was that of “survive first and thrive second”. While not an official doctrine, it can be observed that there are three circles forming a critical decision-making framework.
The inner-most circle contained medical, emergency, security, supply of food, and government communication. The second is that of critical production and services to keep the economy and supply chains functioning. The third was everything else.
As individuals seek comfort in some kind of normalcy, businesses should supply the needs of those consumers or seek to empower those organisations already operating on the two inner circles. The question remains: where to start?
Look for broken windows. The “broken windows theory” was introduced in the early 1980s by social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, initially looking at how criminal behaviour would increase in neighbourhoods with visible signs of crime or anti-social behaviour. Simply put, one broken window would lead to another and eventually the whole area would see an increase in crime.
As a forward-thinking society, armed with an intelligent and innovative business sector, the approach during MCO 2.0 should be to fix as many windows as possible. This metaphor can be extended to all levels and creates a level of urgency to act as problems like a virus will spread if left unchecked. Two things that COVID-19 have brought into sharp focus is the need for increased e-government services that can operate come rain or shine and an innovative private sector nimble enough to shift gears.
The last MCO saw many companies in various sectors grow profits, attracting investors, talent and the media spotlight. They all had one element in common: they were supplying goods or services in “high-value critical supply chains” locally or internationally.
For SMEs the concept of a year or quarter as a business cycle has become obsolete. Perhaps for many it was never a thing to start with; for some it’s now or never. As much of the world is still dealing with the challenges of fighting a virus through social distancing and the shutting down of non-essential economic activities, SMEs that want to grow need to look at what will be critical to consumers, industry and governments now and in the near future.
Opportunities for governments at all levels remain: how to develop secure, effective and accessible e-government solutions available to all residents in Malaysia. The demand for government services has only increased since the beginning of the pandemic and will continue to grow with population and demographic shifts. Ultimately, e-government is about reducing time spent dealing with low-value processing and allowing citizens to be more productive. That productivity will then be reflected in wage growth and increased happiness.
The digital workspace has become the new reality; Malaysians are very adaptable and have proven productive from home or in some cases a local coffeeshop. This success has created perhaps the biggest threat to out-of-office service delivery. Cyber security has become a constant gap and often a broken window.
It’s time to find the broken window that we must fix; with the extra time not spent travelling to the office it will give us time to do so. This will ensure that Malaysia stays ahead of the development curve in ASEAN, surviving the pandemic and thriving in the post-COVID-19 economy.
* Nordin Abdullah is the Founding Chairman of Malaysia Global Business Forum. He is also an EXCO of the Malaysia Australia Business Council.
* The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
Nordin Abdullah
Tue Jan 12 2021
![A critical approach for a successful MCO 2.0 A critical approach for a successful MCO 2.0](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/51609414924_PKPBKelantan.jpg)
Malaysia Global Business Forum's Nordin Abdullah says there is a need to look at the recent lessons learnt from -MCO 1.0- for a successful implementation of "MCO 2.0" - File Pic
AWANI Borneo [16/07/2024] – SUKMA 2024 | Sentiasa berwaspada | Pintu sempadan
AWANI Borneo Selasa, 16 Julai 2024 bersama Fauzi Zin.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
![Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51714453013_courtgavelmahkam.jpg)
Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan
Dalam penghakimannya, Che Mohd Ruzima berkata perayu gagal membuktikan bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen terkhilaf dalam memutuskan kes itu.
Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan mudahkan urusan Imigresen
Malaysia dan Brunei akan mengadakan rundingan bagi memudahkan proses keluar masuk rakyat kedua-dua negara.
![Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124936_KimPanGon.jpg)
Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia
Bekas ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon mahu mengekalkan hubungan baik dengan skuad itu biarpun tidak lagi bersama.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses Projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
Sentiasa berhati-hati, ribut petir diramal berlaku di Sabah
Orang ramai khususnya yang tinggal di kawasan berisiko di Sabah disaran agar bersiap siaga terutama dari segi perubahan cuaca yang tidak menentu yang seterusnya akan mengakibatkan bencana banjir dan pokok tumbang.
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita berpasukan dalam Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) edisi ke-21 di Sarawak akan ditentukan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa SUKMA Peringkat Kebangsaan pada Khamis ini.
JPBM Sabah serah jentera khas buat pasukan sukarela
Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) negeri Sabah sedang dalam perancangan untuk menyerahkan jentera khas, iaitu Volunter Fire Rescue Tender (VFRT) untuk Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PBS) di Sabah.
Sarawak akan pertahan pingat sukan Muay Thai edisi lalu
Skuad Sarawak akan berusaha mempertahankan masing-masing dua emas, perak dan gangsa dalam kejohanan SUKMA yang dimenangi dalam edisi lalu.
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.
![Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721121786_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin memberitahu bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary.
![Tiada pengosongan kerusi: Bersatu ambil tindakan undang-undang dalam masa terdekat Tiada pengosongan kerusi: Bersatu ambil tindakan undang-undang dalam masa terdekat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720866847_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
Tiada pengosongan kerusi: Bersatu ambil tindakan undang-undang dalam masa terdekat
Bersatu konsisten menolak keputusan Speaker Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul dan menegaskan beliau tidak sepatutnya membuat keputusan sebegitu.
![Pemilihan Bersatu: Peja undur diri, Hamzah bertanding Timbalan Presiden Pemilihan Bersatu: Peja undur diri, Hamzah bertanding Timbalan Presiden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720865913_HamzahZainudinnai.jpg)
Pemilihan Bersatu: Peja undur diri, Hamzah bertanding Timbalan Presiden
Setiausaha Agung Bersatu, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin bakal 'naik pangkat' dan menyandang jawatan Timbalan Presiden parti pada pemilihan akan datang.
![Pembangkang semakin dapat sokongan rakyat - Muhyiddin Pembangkang semakin dapat sokongan rakyat - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720844857_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
Pembangkang semakin dapat sokongan rakyat - Muhyiddin
Pembangkang semakin mendapat sokongan rakyat terutama orang Melayu berdasarkan situasi politik semasa ketika ini.
![Pemilihan Bersatu: Saya sudah ada 'keputusan' - Muhyiddin Pemilihan Bersatu: Saya sudah ada 'keputusan' - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719586122_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
Pemilihan Bersatu: Saya sudah ada 'keputusan' - Muhyiddin
'Ilham' diperoleh selepas Muhyiddin bertemu dengan sebahagian besar Majlis Pimpinan Tertinggi (MPT) Bersatu, baru-baru ini.
![Kekosongan kerusi Parlimen: Kerajaan Perpaduan tak isytihar sebab takut kalah - Muhyiddin Kekosongan kerusi Parlimen: Kerajaan Perpaduan tak isytihar sebab takut kalah - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720839564_MuhyiddinYassinBe.jpg)
Kekosongan kerusi Parlimen: Kerajaan Perpaduan tak isytihar sebab takut kalah - Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin dakwa, Kerajaan Perpaduan sanggup melanggar peruntukan Perlembagaan Persekutuaan berkait Akta Lompat Parti.
![Isu dipecat Bersatu: 'PN jadikan kami ahli Parlimen Bebas' - 6 MP Isu dipecat Bersatu: 'PN jadikan kami ahli Parlimen Bebas' - 6 MP](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719654005_Bersatu.jpg)
Isu dipecat Bersatu: 'PN jadikan kami ahli Parlimen Bebas' - 6 MP
Enam bekas ahli Parlimen Bersatu yang dipecat daripada parti itu menegaskan tidak akan menyertai mana-mana parti politik, sebaliknya akan terus berkhidmat sebagai wakil rakyat Bebas.
![[KOLUMNIS] Sungai Bakap mengalir kecewa nasional [KOLUMNIS] Sungai Bakap mengalir kecewa nasional](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720269586_TBSgBakap.jpg)
[KOLUMNIS] Sungai Bakap mengalir kecewa nasional
Kerajaan Perpaduan bukan tidak melakukan yang terbaik, tetapi gagal dalam naratif mereka.
![Kedudukan enam bekas Ahli Parlimen Bersatu: Keputusan Speaker berdasarkan Perlembagaan - PM Anwar Kedudukan enam bekas Ahli Parlimen Bersatu: Keputusan Speaker berdasarkan Perlembagaan - PM Anwar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720671684_AnwarIbrahimperda.jpg)
Kedudukan enam bekas Ahli Parlimen Bersatu: Keputusan Speaker berdasarkan Perlembagaan - PM Anwar
Beliau juga minta Muhyiddin baca tafsiran undang-undang Perlembagaan Persekutuan mengenai Akta Anti Lompat Parti secara menyeluruh.
![Muhyiddin tak faham kebebasan bersuara Ahli Parlimen - Nazri Muhyiddin tak faham kebebasan bersuara Ahli Parlimen - Nazri](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720652981_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
"Muhyiddin tak faham kebebasan bersuara Ahli Parlimen" - Nazri
Keputusan yang dibuat Johari itu bertepatan dengan semangat Akta Anti Lompat Parti yang diluluskan di Dewan Rakyat sebelum ini, kata Nazri.