AS the compulsory wearing of face masks takes effect in Malaysia, one factor rears an ugly head.
It is cost.
Has the government taken into consideration how much more it is going to cost 30 million people (not including millions of foreigners) each month to purchase the disposable masks at RM1.20 per piece?
On the average, an individual would need to replace his mask every two days.
For blue collar workers and food handlers, it is likely they may need to change their masks daily if not twice a day.
In summary and on the average, about 30 million or more masks would be used daily.
What would it translate in terms of costs each month?
A family of four would be spending about RM60 each month.
This does not include school-going children who in all likelihood would have to get their masks replaced daily.
Added to the woes is the food prices that keep going up every other day.
Indeed no thought has gone into the pricing of masks.
One local manufacturer did shout recently that RM1.20 per disposable mask is overpriced as even at 80 sen per piece the profit margin is already good for the till.
Yes, the Health Ministry’s move to make the wearing of masks compulsory in public places is wise as it helps mitigate risk factors as the population become more ambulant with the easing of the movement control order.
But what about the burden on the rakyat’s wallet and the huge profits for mask traders and manufacturers?
At some point this mandatory mask wearing will snowball into public anger as more people are fined for not complying after weeks of trying to keep within the law.
Worst is when people disregard the fact that these masks are perishable and will be totally ineffective if not replaced frequently.
It then defeats the whole purpose of safeguarding the nation’s health.
J. D. Lovrenciear
