Covid-19 : Challenging The Humanity In Us

Me not happy being forced
to use the mask

These are strange and crazy times we are living in. When the news of the Covid-19 outbreak first came to head, I was living in denial. I refused to read any news regarding that and would even scold MOH for forwarding the news to me. My attitude was quite simple – ignorance is bliss. Even when it reached alarming levels during the CNY break, I was still living my bliss. When my parents made a fuss about putting on the mask when I was going to board my flight back to Myanmar from KL, I was protesting (I told them the mask was suffocating me to death 😂😂😂)

When I returned to Myanmar, blissfully, there were “no confirmed cases” (as of right now, still no confirmed cases. I must be in the safest country in the world!!) So, whilst the gravity of the problem kept escalating, I felt I was safe in my bliss. But then, I forgot that social media was a way of life for me. No matter what, unless I completely got off social media, I couldn’t stop seeing feeds regarding this global pandemic. And also, I was roped in for the BCP and Crisis Communication Planning for this at work. I wish I wasn’t. Because I then had to immerse myself in the news – both local and global. One thing bad about me is that I over-empathize sometimes. When I read depressing news, it affects me mentally. And everywhere I turned, it was Covid, Covid, Covid. There were the occasional “Just Bidet! Bidet!” and the singing on the balconies for quarantined communities, but otherwise, it was grim. Needless to say, I've been having sleepless nights. I've been realizing more about myself - in that during desperate situations or if I hear of tragic events or stuff where I am not in control and can't do anything to help, it disturbs me. For some reason. I'm still a WIP anyway. Like if I read about hunger and poverty - I can help. I can do something. But in situations where I just can't, it disturbs me. I don't know why. Anywayssss.......

Then.... one fine evening, due to a social media rumour (c’mon people, stop it already! Equip yourselves on tackling fake news, misinformation and disinformation!!), the shit hit the fan for Myanmar and panic-buying happened. Panic begets panic. And more rumours. More disinformation. The immaturity of people on social media here is next-level 😒😒😒 So, like clockwork, my crisis management instinct took over and I've been putting in extreme extra time to manage all Covid-19 issues at work.

Covid-19 is an unprecedented global pandemic. It is a huge new learning curve, especially for me and MOH who are both in the marketing and communications field. Whilst we seldom talk too much about our work and stuff, this was something we did speak about because we’re on a steep learning curve on how to deal with this, manage the communications and as well as the BCPs. We were checking with each other on what we should be doing / planning / thinking and sharing learnings. Trust me when I said we were speed-learning and we kept each other going for this. Well, couple-goals isn't it? LOL.

I wish though that the general public globally would be a little kinder in understanding that for businesses, this is new too. Everyone is dealing with it the best way possible. The impacts are monstrous – from micro to macro levels. Hence a BCP – what they call a “Business Continuity Plan”. But smaller businesses unfortunately, will not have the capacity to do this. Some would crumble. Everyone's talking about the economic impact these days.

For me, I think Covid-19 challenges our humanity. I've always liked to believe that human beings are generally good. But it looks like when the push comes to shove, we would kill each other. It's like 'survival of the fittest'. I haven’t gotten to the bottom of these kind of mentality (I had recently enrolled for a course on social psychology but I haven’t finished it!!) and I would certainly never understand. At the first sign of trouble, we think only about ourselves. What about the poor? The old? I hoard but stocking up 12 bottles of sanitizer is over-doing it, don’t you think? Not only that – the whole herd-mentality behaviour – not caring if they’re impacting the situation more negatively. It’s like Corona-Party yo!! I have to say, I am rather disappointed with people's behaviour and attitude - as far as those I can see and not just those on social media. The pure stupidity, the blame-game, the drama-lovers, the selfish, the crass.... I can see humanity losing this battle. Yes, I do try to look for the positive news, but how many real ones have we got vs the grim? But yet, I try to remain calm and positive.

Another thing I feel is that Covid-19 is a sure way of weeding out poor leadership for many businesses and governments (do I even need to mention "Malaysia Boleh"? #FacePalm). Forbes recently published a post on “How To Handle Your Corporate Communications” in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic. I quote them here : "At its core, crisis communication must be built on four pillars : honesty, transparency, accountability, and consistency. That means telling the truth, not hiding the facts, not blaming someone else, and doing what you're saying while also saying what you are doing." I for one am very, very particular about businesses operating and communicating in a transparent manner. That is because I am myself very transparent. If I am not happy, I speak it. If I am happy, I speak it. I don't hide things. I always thought that people should be matured enough to deal with my communication transparency and the fact that I don't mince my words (but my thinking is obviously wrong 😕😕😕) One more essential thing is speed. Especially in the face of such a threat where the situation is so dynamic and ever-evolving. I teach the 4Rs of Crisis Communications in the Digital Age in my classes. Whilst the crisis is very new for everyone, I believe the fundamentals does not change. And I believe that during such a crisis situation where people have misinformation and disinformation, it is all too important that they have trust in the leadership to be steering them in the right direction and guiding them towards safety and recovery. If these are not communicated well enough and fast enough, very quickly, they will form their own opinions and psychology states that when opinions are formed, it is a difficult task to change that. 

Anyway, while being in Myanmar, the “new” stolen government of Malaysia decided to call for a “Restricted Movement Order” banning people from going home and going abroad. And for a brief moment, I panicked. My parents were stuck in Malaysia and I am stuck here. And if something happened to them, how? I’d hate to think I won’t be able to get to their side on time. (It was during these moments of panic, I read the news of people not being able to hold their funerals and weddings and shit and I was seriously dead from worrying. I didn't sleep the whole night!). But Mama and Papa reassured me they were doing well. They were not participating in the panic-buying crowds or going anywhere with hoomans. We were in constant contact. Meanwhile, work kept me busy and I was quite adamant to live life as normal as possible without making too much changes or fuss about things. I had to believe that everything will be ok and that my grandparents are watching out for me from heaven. Without this belief, I might go crazy.

For an introvert like me, social distancing and no large gatherings is a definite welcome. I have a big excuse when I get a wedding or event invitation. In fact, my first question when I received an event invitation yesterday was “Shouldn’t you be cancelling this event now?” Because Myanmar too had called for all large gatherings to be cancelled and the closure of schools, cinemas, etc, etc. I just wish they would call for an RMO like Malaysia too. This is so that I have a high possibility of  being able to avoid people who spit, spit, spit and spit every-f***ing-where here. 🤪🤪🤪

But having said that, I started doing the supportive thing by checking in with friends and students near and far and asking how they’re holding up. For some, like us, we’re stuck in a country that isn’t our home. For others, they’re stuck in their home country unable to get out. For more, again, like us, are fire-fighting at work with BCPs and Crisis Management and shit WHILE we are worried about our loved ones at home. It is not part of my routine at all to “check-in” on friends and all because I see them on FB and stuff but the time calls for us to be supportive and check-in on our friends and families.

The situation and time also calls for us to be more giving. More humane. More supportive. Look in on each other. Yes, social recluse are social recluse but we can still check-in on people. My monthly Mobile Soup Movement here in Myanmar is still on and I have called for volunteers to prioritize the old and the needy starting from this month.

I call for everyone to practise fact-checking. To be kinder. To be more supportive. To understand. The world as we know it is changing and the way we do things will also change (MOH had taken to washing, washing and washing our sheets and stuff almost on a daily basis!!). To survive as a human race, we need to be more humane and what we do now will show when we come out on the other side of this pandemic.

#BeTheLightInTheDark