KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach - 9 September 2021 - The recent report produced by the Crisis Management Centre
has exposed several gaps in the critical response to those adversely impacted
by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The
study "Consolidated Data Analysis of Malaysia's Kita Jaga Kita Movement" was
carried out by collecting publicly available data from the three leading
applications developed to facilitate direct aid from the community to
individuals and families. Over a two-week
period in the beginning of August data from the 478 households was gathered
from the Kita Jaga Co app, Sambal SOS app, and the MyBendera app., this was
further augmented with a detailed case study from 39 households in the
Titiwangsa area who received aid.
"By
compiling the publicly available data from these various sources into one
database, the study identified some alarming trends. This study revealed that
there is a need for greater utilization of community and social media generated
data to inform the design of critical response programs. In addition, we need to
make available other forms data previously designated not for public consumption
to encourage open-sourced solutions." Stated Nordin Abdullah the Founder of the
Crisis Management Centre.
"These
apps are important in that they represent the first step in a "community driven
data generation" able to respond to a problem impacting individuals and
families in the broader society. As a
strategic approach there is a need to effectively integrate these data sets
together with other real-time data. This data, once mapped and geotagged, can
be dealt with in a hyper-local manner and at the higher level by various
stakeholders. Better decisions are made with better data."
The
research revealed that families and individuals needed assistance for food (46.1
per cent) and childcare necessities (21.5 per cent), while rental assistance
comprised of 31.5 per cent of the requirements. Social media data suggested
that the public and institutional response primarily focused on food and
childcare as they were delivered in kind. This has exposed a considerable gap
in the response.
"The
report highlighted a critical are of concern, a "rental gap" which may have a
greater impact on mental health than we expect. According to the Maslow's
theory of Hierarchy of Needs, which places shelter at the base of the pyramid
is required for an individual to feel safe. There needs to be a concerted
effort to address this problem." Explained Nordin who is an EXCO member of the
Malaysia Australia Business Council.
The
research finding echoed this sentiment with 67.7 per cent of people self-declared
stress levels before receiving assistance as "very stressed". The report also stated that an increased
understanding through mental health research is required, while the economy
many recover in due course the long term phycological impact of two years of
pandemic lockdowns will have a spill over effect into a post-pandemic Malaysia.
"A
holistic approach towards effective communications needs to be developed. This
crisis increases the number of people pushed below the threshold for
assistance, the data further indicated that 76.9% of those who require aid are
not recipients of aid programs. Which means in a crisis numbers change and the
response needs to be flexible" stated Rizal Kamaruzzaman the Executive Director
of Tindakan Strategi Sdn. Bhd. who contributed to the strategic insights and
recommendations of the report.
The
report was release via the Crisis Management Centre's LinkedIn page.
Link
to Report https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6836630572102758400
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.