Another War, Another Fuel Shortage

Does anyone still recall being on the cusp of the world wide pandemic in late January 2020? Was there a creeping silence as to what could possibly come ahead, as youngsters prepared for another school year across Australia, as east Asia welcomed another Lunar New Year and as supermarket shelves in Europe were loaded with taken for granted signs of plenty? Six years later, we are beginning to possibly experience a Deja Vu of a familiar unfolding scenario in our daily lives. Medicines essential on a regular basis may become scarce or increasingly unavailable due to logistical problems. Availability of supplies of diesel, refined petroleum and liquified gas are reduced and can stop indefinitely, subject to political play. Retail prices of electricity and gas spike again as their generation and flow are dependent on ships delivering petroleum along the world's critically trade strategic passageways. Increasing interest rates spiral inflation for businesses and reduce affordability at the retail level. The linkages in a globalised world continue to be saddled with issues as to how to effectively move trucks, ships and aircraft. Impact on prices charged for construction and building materials is one example of a downside that can ripple through society. Impact on viability and pricing for delivery of goods, food and parcels can slow the dynamics of online and off site purchases. At this stage, in late March 2026, do you feel a deafening or selective silence from authorities, governments and those running our society, about the current and potential risks and outcomes, should there be a continuation of shortages in supplies, increased volume of arnaments used in destruction and a significant toll of civillians injured or dying as collateral damage? The impact of much less petroleum being delivered to societies and economies around the world is still unravelling around four weeks after the firsr missiles were fired. Less developed parts of any country first take the hit when a vital resource gets progressively hard to obtain. City folks get disrupted later and when each new day offers no resolution to the cause of the problem. Australia Post has increased charges for business customers regarding delivery fees. The retail prices of petrol continue to spike all across the Asia-Pacific, with the Phillippines already declaring a national energy emergency. There is a reduction in availability of ingredients necessary to make materials for several industries. Airlines have quickly raised airfares and reduced scheduled flights. Fresh produce cannot be shipped on a timely basis to key overseas markets. Waste collection services in suburbs are affected. Fertiliser costs rise to the detriment of farmers. The much reduced inability to obtain liquified natural gas from West Asia adds a double whammy. Each week brings stuttered considerations and implementation by governments of counter measures like fuel rationing, car pooling, limited use of vehicles, release of poorer quality petrol, emergency provisioning and requests to the public to go out less. Food and grocery availability depend on mechanised vehicles being able to operate mostly utilising petrol. The visible lack of electrification across Australia for public, commercial and private transport purposes has now come home to roost. Generation of electricity in Australia however is not just reliant on solar panel generation but uses fossil fuel sources as well. More and more countries have over depended on private vehicle usage, for varying reasons like their geographical size, cities with poor public transport networks and the pyschological freedom valued when using the motor car. The Achilles heel in vehicle usage is the combination of high pricing for fuel and its reduced availability. The reactions observed of government responses seem to indicate a lack of viable and proactive business continuity planning. Governments of nations seem to operate on the optimism model and only act after significant negative events to first occur. It can be incredulous that governments have been using the just in time and minimum stock principles in inventory management of vital national supplies. A viable nation not only requires defensive abilities in war, but equally important are national resource security, key asset management and the ability to bounce back in the shortest time possible. Incredibly there have been Prime Ministers and/or Energy Ministers telling voters in the recent past, that there are no worries about having a few weeks of national fuel reserves on shore, as they can always depend on allies overseas to make up for shortages in case of shortages encountered. In a world wide emergency, it is indeed every man to himself. Energy sources are not just vital to run an economy in peace time, but become so significant in times of war. A society's vulnerability spikes when it only reacts after something has already occured. The importance of refined petroleum is a good example - a country as large as Australia has for a long time chosen to only have two refineries, even if it produces this vital resource in raw form. A small island nation like Singapore strategised to be a large fuel refiner long ago, even if it has no natural resources. How long the war crisis permeates both micro and macro layers of any economy depends on the decisions made by the human players in the outbreak of conflict. We were tied to the biological and mutatative behaviour of organisms during the Covid pandemic - and the world had witnessed the impact on finance, trade, mobility, health in all forms, governance, commercial power play and social attitudes from 2020 to at least 2023. The kick off for inflation to move at a faster rate has begun a few weeks ago. When various parts of the supply chain experience a kink or a delay, rogue players in the free markets can create artificial insuffiencies or quote actual shortages and raise prices more than necessary in the scheme of things. In economies which do not believe in price controls, the ultimate consumer has no other choice but to pay ultimate costs. The subsequent consequence of rising inflation for higher inter bank rates set by a central bank ( and thereby for mortgage and other lending costs) brings further dire pressure on loan borrowers who already do not earn enough to pay more for interest expenditure. In socialist practice, do governments offer tax credits, increased welfare payments, compensation set offs or specific subsidies to mitigate sudden rising costs of living and expenses of small business? With tighter budgets, the public can be reluctant to spend less on discretionary items and thereby contract the multiplier effect on consumption. A further strike on consumer and business confidence can drive recessionary pressures, reduced wages and GDP growth. Like an accelerating car's speed, even if the causative war were to end tonight, the linked impacts would take some time to stop. Who are nevertheless still benefitting behind the cloud of an pessimistic outlook? Does a conflict embed further the immense power already held by the few on Earth? The churning of pricing and value of investment options is utilised for quick profits with deft timing and changing allocations. The price of gold has see sawed in response to political moves, threats to escalate, promises to reverse and differing actions already witnessed in the few weeks since 28 February. Bond yields in the USA have steadily risen. Share prices have plunged collectively on red letter days and quietly recovered on days that followed. Understandably wholesale oil prices show spectacular increases on graphs, although they do drop as well. How the big players buy and sell at the right time is a useful skill of intelligent analysis and daring already seen through previous heightened episodes of stock and asset play. The media, in whatever form, needs events to arouse readership, attention and discussion. In an age of instantenous accessibility and enhanced pack mentality in expression, well funded financiers, politically charged arousers and savvy influencers can have an intense opportunity in communicating their convictions or agenda. The tragic underside of the internet is its misuse to nisinform or disinform. What has not been emphasised is the possibility of general gullibility of the target audience (including myself) - especially to new technology that can make it harder to distinguish the truth and facts from opinions, speculation and manipulated images. Wartime is the garden bed for bringing up fears, confusion and strong opinions in reaction to a deluge of varying qualities and standards of supposed information. Are certain quarters using war, and its impact, to make huge money making opportunities personally ? Buy when share or commodity prices fall drastically, sell when it spikes up again? If a political decision or action can significantly move values and prices, isn't it a better mechanism to utilise than wait for movements of so called free markets. Like during the Covid 19 pandemic, this month can be another opportunity for contemporary societies to reassess their ongoing risks, assumptions and delusions of the prosperity enjoyed so far. How likely is the strength of still possible optimism, that the problems so far experienced will fade and life will go on as before? Is your nation sleep walking and blithely awaiting a next crisis, if it survives this current one? Patchwork and stop gap measures may make our society carry on, but it does not resolve the relevant root causes. A crisis is an opportunity to resolve matters and build more resilience for the long term, and not just surface treat the symptoms. What are Earth and human beings in for this time in 2026? The Word of the Year seems likely to be "Fuel Surcharge". #yongkevthoughts 26.3 26

Happy 60th, Singapore

 Happy 60th, Singapore. 9 August 1965 to today.

A nation whose leader seriously reckoned would not last on its formation.

An island republic which has no natural resources, but gritly utilised innovative planning, its strategic advantages, technology, human skills and social harmony as imperatives.

An island that virtually imports most of its food.

An island that learns from her past but more emphatically prepares for the future.

An island with so much humidity but relies on energy sucking air conditioning.

An island that has thrived on free market trade and projections of financial governance.

An island that treasures cultures of her denizens - and values contributions of all, more on merit than on divisions.

Is this an island that already has become so costly in terms of paying for accommodation, health care and other aspects in life?

An island that values public transport for all over the trappings of a private car.

An island republic that treasures every inch of its small territory.

An island with a national airline that sets and maintains standards in a sector which is one of her national pillars.

An island that sees herself as a beacon to attract others on investment, educational and technology fronts.

A republic that does not sit still.

#yongkevthoughts

What They Do Not Want To Tell Us

 In an age of information overload, what is most significant? 

It is what they do not tell us.

It is what they make it so difficult to access.

It is "nothing to see here".

It is what they dress up in  mighty terms - commercial-in-confidence, 

Parliamentary privilege,

national security, military secret, for the public's own good.

It is what Freedom of Information requests gets the silent treatment.

It is when shareholder microphones get shut down by the Chairperson of the Board.

It is when obvious topics of urgency, news or discussion of them do not appear as headlines.

It is when authorities underestimate the intelligence of the public.

It is when weblinks are blocked without any explanation given.

It is when the public are fed addiction on rather useless distractions.

It is when censorship occurs covertly with those in power shouting they represent democratic values.

It is when the public gets strongly aroused to find out for themselves.

#yongkevthoughts

Energy Market Dynamics - Australia

 

What is still happening to the energy supply market across Australia?

1.  Huge  multinational energy corporates pay less in wholesale prices for gas and electricity resources from Australia, than retail consumers do within the nation - partly due locked in long term contracts allowed.

2.   Aging coal plants that are due to close soon are symbolic of socio- political issues in regions that have prospered in the past but now struggle economically to face a changing future.

3.    Renewable energy sources are not enough at this stage to replace coal  and traditional ones in sustaining supply to an inceeased population.

4.  The energy market in Australia has been totally outsourced by the Canberra Federal government to so called free market players in the form of only a handful of wholesalers like Aus Grid and Endeavour Energy - allocation has been made for monopoly by geographical areas.

Only the Western Australian state government has been wise and practical enough to ensure their domestic customers get enough supply before allocating supply to overseas wholesalers.

Just like any wise government would take care of its own people first.....

5.   Wholesale private players within Australia then farm out energy supply allocation to retail players like Origin, AGL, Energy Australia, etc.
Such retail players are huge in domination of the domestic market, have become agressive to consumers in utilities  and also said to have interlocking non- Australian interests.

There is an unwillingness by government in Australua to implement measures like price ceilings and caps on charges for essential goods and services. 

7.   Like for mortgage loans, consumers can choose between variable and short term fixed rates for daily supply and usage.

The few players at wholesale supply level already make it possible for them to likely and allegedly squeeze retail players fighting for profit margins in a market for essential utility needs of everyone.

8.  Australia is a major producer of energy resources, yet its residents do not enjoy the benefits of such bounty, due to potential
and alleged market manipulation, lack of strategic and forward looking planning by governments,  poor political leadership for many years and alleged strong interlinks between big business and those in power.

9.   No critical reserve of gas and electricity resources are maintained nationally as part of disaster planning and national strategy.

Note that Australian national emergency reserves in petroleum are kept in the USA. Makes one think!

10.   Although it is easy for retail customers like me to change energy providers (portability without exit penalties), most properties in Australia are not built in an energy efficient way.

#yongkevthoughts

Calling for a Rethink

 

Since Covid management began, with all its downstream implications for labour availability, logistics supply and customer service, everyone has come across disruptions in accessibility.

The rise of contactless transactions has encouraged scenarios where and when we receive no or little explanations for problems and poor service - and the frequent feeling that we just have to take it on the chin.

In Australia, the  occurence of confronting climate disasters has coincided with the downside of Covid management since 2020.  As a nation, we over depend on manufactured stuff mostly from overseas.
Although we have sufficient food production security, the society has only a few weeks of fuel supplies.  Over reliance on visitor and migrant labour for harvests also meant a  crisis when borders were shut down for months on end to minimise the spread of the Covid in 2020 and 2021 - but in 2022 most Covid infections spread like wildfire within domestic confines.

Lettuce is now down to one dollar from 12 dollars each in my local fresh produce markets, while bananas have risen in price per kilo.  The swings in supply and pricing seem to jump from one basic product to another.  They just amplify the vulnerabilities already existing in the way basic necessities are produced, acquired and brought to the ultimate consumer - and some of the causes and effects have nothing to do with Covid.

Many of the things we utilise and take for granted are distributed and controlled by duopolies - the serious lack of competition in business will undermine the quality and standard of life and economy for Australia in the years to come.

We also have too few big players in the banking, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, food retail, insurance, power utility, transport, infrastructure, media and airline sectors.  That virtually covers many requirements in our daily lives.

These really big players are becoming too big to fail and more of society's taxpayer monies are being fed to them.  The extent of choice for consumers continue to narrow. 

Federal government in Canberra has significantly outsourced services to commercial providers, consulting groups and grant recipients in aged care, education, national strategic processes and vital areas previously handled by a supposedly more benign hand of elected governance.

How the best interests of Australian individuals, communities and society are best handled by profit seeking market players give rise to serious questions.

So when society and her denizens continue to be fed and addicted to obvious negatives, it gets even harder to break the cause and effect cycle. Reflect on the push for opiods in the intricate web experienced by the USA.   Think of the continuing promotion of excess consumption of sugar, gambling, wifi and other dependencies.

The continuing Covid years on the other hand have awakened a level of personal and group consciousness as to how our society, economy and personal reflection can be better.

#yongkevthoughts

Thoughts on Singapore - On the Cusp of the Future

 

Every society has its
downs and ups. Do we recognise, sharpen and utilise our inherent advantages - and do we counter our disadvantages?

Size of territory, the lack of available natural resources and geopolitical risks can be set off by strategic planning and implementation, quality education for the public, technological value add and having an embedded practical vision for a nation.

Governance can be betrayed by divisive politics, short term manipulation, obsessive diversions, pervasive corruption and undue foreign influence.

Does your goverment cloud you with petty issues, falling standards, band aid solutions and lack of initiative?

Singapore is not just economically rich, but has societal attitudes borne out of its unavoidable deficiencies.
It has developed as a beacon of refuge from instability and as a captivator of talent ignored or under appreciated in other places. 

Singapore does walk on a tightrope between competing interests.  Its colonial heritage, future socio-political development and dependence on an open market are all two edged swords of opportunity and crisis.

Taxes can be low but costs of car ownership and properties prohibitively high.  Spatial freedom can be a challenge for visitors with loads of open space and lower populations from nations with too much land.   Singapore is a world critical transport hub by air and shipping, due partly to its location.
Will it be caught up in a war not of its making but due to its geographical and trading eminence?

#yongkevthoughts

Corruption and Manipulation

 

Ethical standards and practice have significantly fallen around
the world.

The levee against corruption, rorting and monies stolen from the public in many sectors have collapsed.

Is it the system?  Is it the manipulation of the system?
Is it that third parties do not call it out when breaches occur?

Is it because I observe, but do not say anything and do nothing more?

Does it go deeper into the mindsets, of those individuals in and with the power, getting more greedy?

Is it because the common person like me is easily fooled?

Is it because I am part of the corrupt system, willing to pick up peanuts strewn on the ground by individuals who rake in millions in cash?

The manipulation by the corrupt few will only grow, if nothing further is done more effectively, apart from reporting after the fact, discussing and talking.....as the said levee continues to go under.

#yongkevthoughts

The Achilles Heel of Nations

States are formed in the political scheme of power as envisaged by human beings.   Previously there were kingdoms, fiefdoms, empires and more.   Whatever the label, political entities are strong statements of unity and control under a declared culture, way of society, a dynamic personality of aruler or dynastic rulers, religion, trading hub or federation of smaller states.

Singapore, now a modern city state of a Republic, was part of the British Empire for many years.  Eighty years ago, on 15 February, colonial troops surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army, which had quickly conquered the Malayan peninsular after the attack on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.  ( On 19 February that same year, 1942, the Japanese air force bombed Darwin).  The British had concentrated their defences in Singapore facing south towards the sea, instead of also providing for defences along the island's north.  This was a lesson of Achilles Heel that was learnt at much cost in human casualty, military strategy and economic damage.

The animal kingdom marks out territories for food, reproduction, survival and climate adjustment.   Human beings, with all their philosophy, religious orders and assumed brainy higher order of development, still exhibit inherent and obvious behaviours of aggression, geographical control and reshaping Earth.

Maybe in certain locations, we did not have the contemporary extent of greed in the prior history of human kind, as opposed to what is demonstrated by commercialised and militarised powers in today's world.   Most indigenous tribes, which still survive today, still emphasise not harming the Earth in its landscape, water systems, biospheres and fauna management - they only take what is enough for them and not to supply an over consumerist society.  These long standing human groups knew the Achilles Heel is to over exploit Earth and her bounty - and not make Nature's gifts unsustainable.

The multi-national corporates which confront these older cultures, when carving out huge dams, deforesting wide tracts of long growing forests or scarring Earth for its valued minerals underneath, can operate outside some confines of individual state power.

Looking at the stage of world order today, in the beginning of the 21st century, what soft belly and vulnerable portions of societies stand out? 

One feature of Achilles heel for nations is their geographical location or shape.

It is often said, when looking at a map, that the Korean Peninsular can be viewed as hanging out and hovering over the southern Japanese islands.  Sicily is like being at the foot of the Italian boot. The two main islands of New Zealand are seen by the Maoris as two large boats in an wide open ocean.  Borneo either looks like a roosting hen or a comfortably seated bear.   The bottom half of South America reminds one of the tail of a mermaid.

If your nation is controlling a vital trading route, especially a narrow one like a canal or strait, it can be a two edged sword of a geographical feature - harvest prosperity,  or be a target for takeover by foreigners.  The colonials from the 16th to the 20th centuries fought for control of the Straits of Malacca, which still has a stranglehold of passage for ships from the Indian Ocean to transverse into the South China Sea.   Gilbratar, a tiny figment of space at Spain's southern tip, is a significant cross roads between Africa and Europe, between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.    The Straits of Bosphorus divides not only the ancient and still important city of Istanbul, but also marks the line between southern Europe and the Middle East.   Again, it is a sea of water that separates Siberia from Alaska  - why ever did Russia sell Alaska to the Americans?   Russia's main access to shipping in Europe is the Baltic Sea  - apart from the Black Sea which has waters lapping at the Crimean Peninsular.

So in the 21st century, huge funded powers can control the weak points in internet, cyberspace and wifi delivery.

When you are a landlocked country, that can be your significant disadvantage and you require more options.   When your nation has huge ambitions - and the resources to realise further -  you want to expand your territorial control to another ocean.  Great Britain, in her days of Empire, demonstrated that, followed by the USA spreading out from its Atlantic coast origins.   

Switzerland, at the centre of inland Europe, however is an exception - she chose to be minimally involved with the complexity of European politics, wars and power staging - and cleverly nurtured her neutrality to be a beacon of relative peace, eventually offering her devices to host being a broker and focus on a better quality of life for her peoples.

When you have significant resources of minerals, bio materials and fossil fuels which Earth's commerce still wants in copious amounts, it can be your strength or weak point.   Financial powers linked with politics scramble to your door step to unearth your resources at the cheapest price - and make fortunes processing them before they arrive at the lap of the ultimate consumer.    

Western Australia's riches, Brazil's exploited resources, South east Asian forests and petroleum in unstable nations have been targets.  Countries that do not apply more technology, to add value to their natural resources being dug up, do usually and eventually lose out in the high stakes of economics, trade and finance.

There is always money and trade hidden behind the outbreaks of war.

We are told to get involved in war outbreaks around the world to fight for freedoms and democracy, but a more intelligent populace knows that the viability for such talk is getting thin.  

The Achilles heal for militarily mighty nations is that the ability to wage effective warfare is now spread across more nations.  There is more effective competition and decreasing ability to lord over the rest.

Warfare is sadly engaged by commoners at the ground level, directed by commanders in safe and comfortable hideouts calling the shots.    Are such commanders thinking more of a better life for their subjects, after waging a war, or are they more interested in protecting their privileges in controlling the financial currency of trade, their monopoly of vital assets like petroleum and in maintaining the world order where they still can be kings?   The world stage concurrently faces more political tensions as  emerging super powers possess increased abilities to face the incumbents.   The soft belly for powerful militaristic nations is the loss of control of what funds them.

If no wars break out , the huge ornaments industry will be significantly affected financially and in production of inventories.

So there can be prominent nations always seeking out issues, carrying out covert work and stirring up groups to create conditions leading to confrontation and military fights.

An obvious Achilles heel of nations is the inability or not having capacity to secure sufficient control of vital operations.   It may be the easier thing for governments to outsource more and more operations, leaving control to multi-national corporations, commercial providers other countries and entities outside their political control.   Have you come across a nation's government  keeping reserves of vital supplies in a foreign nation, located thousands of kilometres away?  Some nations do it probably because they do not have enough physical capacity to store those vital supplies, being a small island state does come to mind.  Others, even with lots of land, still amazingly keep their back up reserves physically in an allied nation far away.

In the still intense stage of international politics, a soft belly of usually weaker nations is to be used as a pawn in the high stakes chess game of proxy war.  Such a stage will mean this specific nation is targeted to cause a diplomatic or military incident, which then sparks off a larger argument, point of difference and the commencement of long simmering hostilities.   The sad state of such a soft belly being utilised is that usually the main opposing powers do not wage a physical or virtual battle in their own precious territories, but only on the land of the used smaller state.  They say to be careful to choose your friends, for having alliances with unsavoury powers that make use of you for spying facilities, battle waging and buffering against the sworn enemy can be expensive for smaller states.

Finally, but not exclusively, is the manner of how ruling governments treat and manage voters in a so called democracies.  It is getting obvious that electoral processes can be manipulated by hidden and overt powers in such political systems.   The game of playing dirty seems to be more blatant across the world in the beginning of this 21st century - ponder how significant corruption has broken out without much accountability and shame in more nations.   The manner in which Covid has been handled by ruling powers has brought out their deficiencies, intentions and power play in such pronounced ways.    Going forward, let the people judge.

A Reflection Along the Way

 

Omicron infections are spiking in Malaysia and Singapore.

The experience of Sydney since December 2021, where the state governmemt has fast let virtually all restrictions removed and the spread go rip throughout the community, suggests some salient matters.

Each individual has his or her own unique risk circumstances and parameters.

Although most Omicron infections seem to only cause milder symptoms than Delta, there is a risk of long Covid, whether one is vaccinated or not.

The nsw state premier and Aus PM have pushed it to self responsibility for managing any covid infections, at most since December 2021.

Public and political management of covid can have powerful hidden agendas.

Self prevention of infection remains the most consistent weapon for individuals.  Omicron transmission is said to occur through both hangabout air and infected surfaces.

Several side effects of Covid vaccines are not highlighted by mainstream media and governments. It can be the luck of the draw when one does not react adversely to the different typres of vaccinations.

If you reckon you have been in a high infection risk area, practically self check any ensuing symptoms. Continue to build and maintain your natural or personal immunity level and enjoy lots of fresh ventilation indoors and outdoors.

Be conscious of where covid enters the body - mainly through the nostrils and throat.

There can be more mutated strains after Omicron.  No authority fully knows the next path of covid.  Mistakes in covid management can be repeated or avoided in the future.

All each of us can do best is to exercise mindful practicality, to synchronise with your life patterns. Prepare for different scenarios of how covid can act out in 2022.

#yongkevthoughts

It Has Been Too Long

 

We are coming to the second anniversary of the arrival of C19 in late January 2020.

Amazingly, the number of infections in most states of Australia have skyrocketed beyond modelling, imagination and expectation.

Cases of the latest mutated strain are also spiking in at least tens of thousands across nations which have governments embracing Omicron.

So it does all fall logically like the snow in a severe northern hemisphere winter.

Back in greater Sydney, the reporting of infections have become muddled in this new year - are they from self test kits, public testing facilities, from Omicron or from false online data input? Who knows, we are not told of useful breakdown in information anymore.

What we experience instead are more alerts about we having visited venues at the same time as confirmed infectees (through use of the QR code scanning) and that more of people we directly know are down with infections.

For about two years, we knew confidently how to get help if we got infected.  Now we are discouraged from going to the gp system or hospital network - we are strongly told by authorities to basically self manage.

It is so ironic that the main reason, for the fast opening up  to embrace the Coronavirus, is for reasons of economic continuity, political strategy and undisclosed agendas. 

Supply and human resource shortages have since in a few weeks undermined the micro economy.  Politicians are becoming more naked in their lack of ideas apart from pushing the populace for more vaccination shots. 

The lack of effective leadership has sent a multiplier effect to increase uncertainty, doubt, confusion and desperation amongst the public.  It has been reported that the public across Greater Sydney has made a voluntary lockdown upon themselves, as opposed to mandated lockdowns of the past.

It may be safer even a year or two ago compared to conditions prevailing now.

Continuing emphasis on underplanning, reacting with ever changing micro rules and not bothering with implementation roadblocks can be the ruse of  several governments today.  The public may want to be ever so compliant - but finding it increasingly difficult to do as told - and more are questioning the ridiculousness and inefficacy of it all.

I know of more friends of mine letting it loose and travelling more.  Is such mobility transient, saddled with inconvenience and only offering temporary relief?

Information and data are dished out in even more obvious selective ways.
Various significant same parties are never blamed, while the onus of responsibility is put on the shoulders of the public.  Many more so called leaders continue to spell out doom and gloom, without offering an iota of workable solution.

The same phrases and lingo are uttered by those in charge, like on cue, seemingly so well coordinated in double speak that does nothing to stop the spread of this problem.

Governments at different levels are swirling in dealing with undesired developments following the decision to embrace the disease and not bother with anything else.

Each of us are now allowed - except in Western Australia, China and certain parts of the EU - to do exactly the things we were forbidden from in 2020 and most of 2021.  There is a huge shift to dropping prevention and cuddling reaction in the mindset of people empowered to take care of us.

The Coronavirus itself never listens to the daily political briefings held in its name - and only gung ho looks for another human host to propogate, according to the science oft quoted.

It has been too long in testing our patience.

#yongkevthoughts

The Irony and The Obvious

 There is a growing irony when you live under a government that wants the public to embrace Covid.

Busibess venues are open but customers are more reluctant to use them.

Business venues are open but there are not enough stocks and staff available to viably keep them open.

We are free to travel but subject to a whole host of procedures that restrict our other freedoms.

We have minimal restrictions compared to days of lockdowns, travel permits and border closures- but we find ourselves more willing to stay home and observe what the heck is actually happening with the C and its implications.

We are told to test, when we have symptoms, but it is getting more challenging to be tested.

If the Omicron has less severity, then why are we still pushed to continue to test and get more vaccine jabs?

Governments can tell us to ride the wave over significant spikes in new mutations of C.  If we get infected, we are however told mostly to treat ourselves with painkillers - and not to bother with a medical and hospital system that increasingly cannot cope with increased demand.

If governments want us to comply with some new or changing rule, they have to ensure  the related infrastructure, supplies and personnel are sufficient to allow us to implement the requitements.

If various vaccinations for C are to be fully working, governments must not relentlessly use this option as the only option.

Governments cannot resort to redefinitions of C related parameters, without properly balancing the requirements of science, public health, the economy and mental health of society.

Withholding information or data suggests that governments have something serious to hide.

After 2 years of C, we are not as interested in daily figures of infections as in what key steps the government is taking to further reduce those figures.

The public needs more encouragement, wisdom snd truth from authorities rather than fear, blame shifting and excuses.

Prevention and proactivity is still so much better than reaction and panic.

State of a Covid Territory

 

What are the likely near future public health scenarios across Greater Sydney in the next few weeks leading to the arrival of The Lunar New Year of the Water Tiger, on Feb 1?

Already 20 pc of PCR testing are resulting in positive infections.  The NSW capacity for PCR testing is cracking up, so lower testing numbers will give skewed and underreported figures of infection.  PCR test results are taking more than 48 hours by pathology providers to inform those tested - increasing risks of those already infected to spread an already more infectious Omicron, before the test results are communicated to them.

The push by Sco Mo and Perrotett for the public to utilise RAT testing, which can be inaccurate and incorrectly applied by untrained individuals, has already run into a wall of lack of stocks to buy, rising test kit prices and inaffordability of many to buy them.

The current focus by government here on testing, significantly misses what should be done more to reduce the spread of Omicron.  The reluctance to impose a focused and broader base of measures for the public since October 2021,  can sound the death knell for any hope of an early end to the pandemic.

The only strategy practised by governments here in Australia is to push for more and earlier booster shots of the same officially unquestioned vaccinations.  The absence of more innovative approaches underlies increasing pessimism in containing significant spikes in cases of Omicron.  The Re factor of spread is hurling more than 2 across Greater Sydney.
If around 95 percent of the NSW population has been jabbed, there is obviously less room to blame the unvaccinated to account for rising infections and hospitalisations.

When more individuals across greater Sydney get infected in five figures each new day, they increasingly cannot go to work more due to physical inability, rather than complying with government policies in isolation number of days.  So much for helping the economy at the expense of everything else.

When businesses and hospitals lack staff, there is an accumulative negative effect on the capacity of medical and economic activity and expertise to perform.

In addition to resourcing and infrastructure issues, there can be a looming supply logistics inability developing that casts a shadow on the access to many things we take for granted.

Australia is not the only nation battling the complexities of Omicron, directly or on secondary impact.  There is a real competition in securing many same things in demand across the world.

Hence there is most likely a perfect storm developing in medically treating the huge increase of infectees.

Pyschologically and collectively,  there has already been a lowering of the guard and mindfulness in simple personal responsibility measures of social distancing, face masking and avoiding crowded indoor venues with poor ventilation - the first line of defence and prevention has been whittled away.

The authorities will continue their knee jerk reactive measures, with policies that show how unprepared they are, even when they have allowed whatever new mutated strains to come in freely.

At the personal level across Greater Sydney, contact tracing, QR code scanning and exposure venue identification have all been minimised.  People are asked to maintain their confidence on the unquestioned reliance solely on vaccination protection.  Even the supplies for booster vaccination appointments are getting harder to obtain across Greater Sydney, together with the availability of test kits of whatever kind.

More and more of us this past week know of personal friends who have contracted the Coronavirus, compared to Christmas 2020 and even as recently as three months ago.

So in the next few weeks, we can expect to self manage more in our own medical treatment if we get infected - all good if we only have mild symptoms.  Treatment for other ailments will continue to be sidelined as in as much for the past two years.

For those unfortunate enough to suffer more adverse symptoms with Omicron infections, we must be prepared to lower our expectations of the private hospital and public health resources to timely support us.

So I suggest each of us have an emergency response kit and plan according to the needs of your circumstances.

Here I have taken a low risk tolerance to prepare for the worst near future scenario.    Another person may prefer a higher risk tolerance and prepare for a better scenario. The choice is ours - I pray for the best outcome and prepare for the worst.

3 January 2022, 8pm AEDT.

#yongkevthoughts

The Arrival of Omicron

With the arrival of another C19 mutation, Omicron, it looks like an increasing case of deja vu. Flight arrivals from the first hotspot nations are banned. There is a dearth of knowledge amongst experts, bureaucrats and politicians on how a new mutation will play out. Infections are confirmed amongst individuals who arrived from hotspot nations, but they arrived before any arrival bans. Such individuals had total freedom of movement when they visited what are now called exposure spots in the local community, before feeling unwell and testing positive. Will there be breaches at the control points of disembarkation and quarantine accommodation? Citizens and PRs of destination countries, coming from hotspot nations, are isolated for 14 days after arrival, but we are no longer told where exactly they are quarantined. The word "hotels" is no longer mentioned. The playbook in response by authorities looks amazingly familiar. After two years, there are seemingly no new ideas, except perhaps to take comfort in a high population percentage who have offered to be jabbed seemingly three times within 12 months. The first reaction upon hearing the arrival of Omicron is to promote booster shots. The difference this time, is significantly, that most nations tell their denizens that they have to live with the Coronavirus, so that the economy can bounce back. Even when air travel is opened up more than ever, the range of process just to get on a commercial aircraft to a foreign destination and return to the home country - testing, insurance and more - can be a most inconvenient one. The biggest challenge to us as individuals is the potential growth in uncertainty, just when our mindsets and expectations have moved to more certainty. Not again! is my first thought. Once the proverbial cockroach breaches our international border sentries, authorities have to decide whether the old regime of mass testing, varying levels of lockdowns, scanning QR codes, face masking, ensuring social distancing, hospitalisations and the lot - are back in force, or do they have to come up with more innovative approaches? Unsavoury authorities can still continue to hide behind the excuse of Omicron to implement more of their dark agendas - hopefully not. Are we facing a scenario of accepting more infections, downplaying specific risks, allowing more personal freedoms and deemphasising the collateral damage to society and individuals? The arrival of Omicron and the intent of many governments to want us to learn to live with Delta and any future mutations, now dovetails to a critical stage. Not enough is known about Omicron today, so will it fizzle out to nothing or will it step up the complexity for us and our rulers? #yongkevthoughts

Islands In the Stream

Three islands of varying sizes have found themselves geographically located next to influential next door neighbours. TASMANIA Tasmania, so near the Antarctic, compared to most other lands, stands out as the pristine ecological opportunity to still seriously take care of, despite the march of economic explotation, hydro water engineering, mining and cutting down of its quality forests. Its socio-political fate is significantly linked to mainland Australia across the Bass Straits. With a relatively less dense population compared to even New Zealand's North and South Islands, its First Peoples of Lutuwrita met head on big time with different civilisations four hundred years ago. It still relies on tourism monies, now cut off because of the borders closed as a keymeasure to manage a Coronavirus we seem to not fully understand and able to control. Tasmania's other virtues, however, cannot be over looked apart from use of the land and surrounding seas. The advantage of being remote can now come to the fore. While Earth increasingly shows strains of being over utilised and over populated in parts, Tasmania can be a unique laboratory for innovative social ideas, technological progress and as a biosecurity haven. Its status as a Federated State with Australia still means limitations in its own empowerment and the interference of Canberra, which has a Federal Government acting in varying levels of benefit to the Southern Antipodes. Like the rest of Australia, it is blessed with land, a lot of it in Tasmania being arable, although it can be mountainous in its centre. Islands do have a greater inherent urgency and character to be more self-sufficient than others. Tasmania ranks as 26th in the ranking of island size on Earth. It has more rainfall than most of desert island mainland Australia. Its socio-political dynamics are most closely linked with Victoria. In terms of military security, it is furthest located from the most vulnerable northern corners of the nation facing South East Asia. Tasmanian authorities can increase cooperation with New Zealand - with both countries creating the best hub for clean fresh produce, outdoor sports and different lifestyles. SINGAPORE Education,leadership, meritocracy, resilient security and having a strategic mindset are what the Republic of Singapore emphasises. This five pronged approach can be foremost in mind applied by Tasmania's Governments to ensure its competitive edge with the rest of the world. Singapore has no natural resources and yet it is now a developed nation with a standard of living, currency value and GDP per capita higher than most other countries. I reflect on several other similar achieving small city states from history. So the advantage of having a land area smaller than so many islands can mean it is easier to manage - or not. Size can always be a two edged sword and it is always not a factor to just rely on. Though small in acreage and mostly flat levelled it is, Singapore has a population comparable to Greater Sydney. The Republic has a complex social heritage like Sri Lanka - both nations were colonies of Britain, prospered as entrepots and are located on major shipping routes. The Government of Singapore values every inch of land it has in its territory and maps its details accordingly - apart from being so experienced in land reclamation. It also emphasises in ensuring extensive foliage as far it can for its populace. Landscaping and provision of public facilities are significantly evident. Such attributes by its Government echo the hunger for advancement despite the odds. Progress can only come but at a price, use of smart approaches, striving for excellence and inculcation of national unity in its peoples. The economy is dependent on migrant labour, openness in trading and travel and adoption of forward looking technolgies. Advancement also means more than survival. The island is a Red Dot once politically attached to the Malayan Peninsular. Its proximity to the Indonesian islands implies that what happens next door can easily and quickly over flow into Singapore. Within ten minutes of takeoff, a Singapore Airlines flight aircraft is already on to Malaysian or international air space. Its alliances and past history with Britain now has cascaded down stream through time into a closer political relationship with the USA, Australia and New Zealand, as well necessarily with its ASEAN neighbours and an ever prosperous and powerful China. Singapore thrived as a middle man and can still play a useful role as a broker on the ever changing stage of world wide politics. The Republic does not host any American military bases, unlike Australia, South Korea and Japan - but its largest trading partner is China. Singapore is sensitive to and emphatic about maintaining racial harmony in its society. Developments in Malaysia, separated only by two causways, are always top priority as its nearest neighbour has policies, rules and mindsets which can be so different from the core values of contemporary Singapore. Better economic performance by Singaporeans can attract respect, disdain and rivalry from others. Security of supplies to its populace lies at the base of Singaporean existence and its government can be masters of crisis management. SRI LANKA The former Ceylon was a gem for the colonial British Empire. Like Singapore, different ethnic groups were brought together to live and work on an island the size of Tasmania. Since independence, the dominant Singhalese have asserted primary control in politics - and minorities have been disadvantaged by civil war, religious divisions and poor economic performanace. Sri Lanka, unlike Singapore and like Tasmania, is rich in natural resources. Its rich cultural heritage can draw tourists but its mismanagement lies at the base of many problems that persist today. In contrast,the island's landscapes and wild life are a stand out delight. Muslims, the biggest minority of Tamils, Burghers, Moors, Malays, Chinese and the Indigenous Vedda also live in the Republic of Sri Lanka. The Arabs, Portuguese and Dutch adventurer traders preceeded the Brits, sailing on their way to Malacca and the Spice Islands. Add to this mix an agricultural and plantation based way of life, the power of the military and a rather obvious modification of the Westminster form of democracy. Located between the Indian Ocean and across the Palk Straits to India, its primary religion is Buddhism, spread long ago through its larger neighbour. The island nation is also seen as strategic by superpowers. It was an important stop for flights between London and Singapore. Its idyliic coasts, cooling hills and inherent serendipity contrast with the brew of a social complexity still simmering for a relatively small country. Sri Lanka can perhaps take a leaf out of the book used by Singapore to minimise racial and religious conflict. Steps can be taken to reduce a climate of extremism, intolerance and excessive political infighting. Strengths in health, education and family resilience can be highlighted to build a better society. The equatorial climate can infuse an easy air of casualness on the island, so the violence experienced and witnessed in the Republic's history can be shocking. Even if one took no sides in the long drawn out civil war, one cannot escape feeling the ruthlessness in which it was carried out, with many casaulties and victims , especially for civillians in the north-eastern corner of the country. The recent history of Sri Lanka teaches others, if we want to escape its unfortunate experience, to never let intolerance in all forms permeate. Socio-economic development must prioritise to help all sections of Sri Lankan society. Investment funding is critical to Sri Lanka. It can reach out to build more trade links between Africa and Asia. It cannot afford to be held back by its current deficiencies but it must look to itself more to develop its future. IN CONCLUSION Three different islands are undergoing different paths. You may have visted them to chill out in travel-frenzy times before the past 2 years. The best asset each island discussed above has are its people and their determination to succeed further in the 21st century. Each island offers us a most rewarding diversity in food, blessed by its location and surrounding influences, but what in the Big Picture can each island offer themselves? Their peoples do have strengths and positive values which can be further encouraged and utilised to rely upon when faced with future perils, especially when they can be drawn into the problems or conflicts of their specific region. Each of these islands can play their role as save havens, whether from outside turmoil,to contain contamination or for alternative lifestyles. However, each to has to confront their own Achilles heel in this process and seek renewed opportunities in the unique fields they can excel in. Whatever threats and disadvantages it faces, each of the three islands also needs continuing future leaders who will rise above it all. yongkevthoughts Tasmania 65022 square km 2020 Population 541071 No 26 Ranking in island Size Singapore 728.6 square km 2020 Population 5.7 million - Sri Lanka 65610 square km 2020 Population 21.14 million No 25 Ranking in Island Size City of Wollongong NSW 221 square km 2020 Population 307407 City of Perth Western Australia 14 square km 2020 Population 30971 City of Adelaide South Australia 3260 square km 2020 Population 1.38 million Greater Melbourne Victoria 9993 square km 2020 Population 5.13 million Greater Brisbane Queensland 1343 square km 2020 Population 2.56 million Greater Sydney New South Wales 12370 square km 2020 Population 5.37 million Greater Auckland New Zealand 637 square km 2020 Population 1.6 million Island of Penang Malaysia 293 square km 2020 Population 1.8 million

Malaya Independent for 64 Years

Britain granted independence to Peninsular Malaya on this day 64 years ago - 31 August 2021. Malaya then became part of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, joining Sabah and Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, and Singapore. In 1965, Singapore became its own Republic on leaving this Federation. As a child having a charmed life on Penang Island, every anniversary of this occasion was anticipated with much fanfare. The lyrics of the National Anthem were reexamined in earnest. Specials were screened at theatres and on telly. No special cakes or delicacies were made though, even for a food obsessed society. Neighbours did however come out in compounds to chat with each other. English was still spoken with gusto - and everything Brit was still much held with respect, much akin to parents in contemporary Malaysia, having an embedded respect of university education in good reliable England. I never questioned then what we were celebrating independence from. Sure, the history books said we were free from the yoke of imperialism, economic exploitation and rule by a foreign race. But I could already enjoy the heritage of what Britain left behind in other positive aspects. There was a Westminster based Parliamentary system. We already had royalty, from nine component states, left intact by colonial interests - in case anyone missed Queen Liz. There were dependable legal and governance systems already working in the Malayan Civil Service. Transport infrastructure, public health care, education mechanisms and economic pillars were already well established, much better than in most newly founded nations. There was a strong foundation of family, criminal, corporate and tax law like in Australia. Friends of my parents, my classmates and neighbours relished in enjoying commonly shared values, than focus on differences. Socially, we immersed themselves in laughter, helping each other out and cultivating joint hobbies. Gatherings were more spontaneous than formal, centring round fruit seasons, cultural festivals, good weather days and when people needed a listening ear. In the classroom, there was a comradeship that transversed the boundaries of religion, ethnicity and class. We valued the English language for its dominance in world trade, academia and international networking. We learnt our respective mother tongues. By law, we learnt the Malay lingua franca. In Penang, there was a Patois spoken that is still as colourful as in New Orleans, Papua New Guinea or in South Africa. Like in Sydney and Melbourne these days, we had access to several cuisines - and still do. Friends of diverse backgrounds used to eat together at the same table, but I understand now they no longer do, as much. We picked up learning how to use the whole plethora of ingredients from well tried recipes from around Asia and Europe. My Eurasian Uncle Cornelius exemplified the closeness of Malaysians when I was growing up. He personified Christmas to me, with a joy from his Dutch heritage and his ability to make magic of a day when he visited.  Mum and our Sri Lankan neighbour' s wife made curries.   I still recall the beauty of furniture in the lounge when we visited Cikgu Iskandar.  I picked up bad words in Tamil, Hokkien, Cantonese, Japanese, Mandarin and Malay - and they did have a punch which can hold their own in an ocker Aussie pub. Soccer, badminton, late night suppers, jungle and beach trial walks, hide outs on Friday arvos after school - they all had no over the top racial identification. There was a strong underlying and unspoken bond of just being humans, of growing up in and of connecting to society. What seemed like benign bureaucratic practices - like of being identified by race and religion on ID cards, instead of just being Malaysian - in retrospect, evolved into tools of separation, social alienation and discrimination. Critics blame the colonial authorities for laying down the seeds of the current socio-political structure in current day Malaysia. They cite the "divide and rule" strategy utilised to manage a diverse society like Malaya before independence. However, once they were their own rulers, the local politicians of the day reinforced this policy, instead of applying fresh and innovative approaches like meritocracy, equity and tolerance. As a child in Malaysia, I vaguely recall a night curfew imposed in Penang, due to riots and social disorder. Such tools of social and political control can be primitive in looking back, for now there are other covert or other more effective tools of political manipulation, corruption in theft of state funds, mass cajoling of the emotions of voters and gerrymandering of electorate borders. Malaysia's ideal democratic practices have sadly been whittled or hijacked as the nation moved to the 21st century.   There has grown a culture of dependency on state hand outs to a majority of its denizens, who dominate the military, civil service, universities, police, banks and economic or trading monopolies.  The growing emphasis by a series of Prime Ministers since the 1980s in linking political power with financial kleptocracy measures has taken a severe impact on the nation's vibrancy and future prospects. Malaysia is a land of abundant resources, scenic landscapes and untapped potential. It has been the less than desired management by its leaders that have now rendered it less attractive for investment potential and educational strengths than its nearby neighbours of Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore. My birthplace has petroleum resources, agricultural wealth, manufacturing capability and strides between China, India and Australasia. Yet some key factors continues to suppress its future potential - leadership, mindset, community attitudes, technological prowess, history and inertia. Blame shifting has also been a significant characteristic of its past. Soon there may be no one else to put the blame on, apart from themselves. Before the arrival of Covid, the seeds of problems and embedded issues have not been resolved. A pandemic only amplifies the weaknesses and rifts already raging in a nation. So far from the evening equatorial thunderstorms, smells and sights of a colourful street and the chatter of boyhood mates, I reflect - can Malaysia turn round a meaningful corner? #yongkevthoughts

The Second Year of Covid

27 July 2021. From what I discern as consistent patterns in the behaviour of leading governments around the world, 18 months after this c19 breakout, the following highlights my significant concerns. 1.  Increasing emphasis on vaccinations as the only way out, together with regular booster shots. 2.   No significant efforts to invest more in public health systems. 3.   Increasing movement restrictions on the masses, with the consistent message that we have to exchange being inoculated to have access to what are essentially our human rights. 4.  The relative silence of the Big Pharmas, which tend to have politicians speaking implicitly for them. 5.   The consistent mantra from governments that they follow the science and medical advice, when in many cases that does not sound so convincing anymore. 6.    The mixed messaging from authorities on many fronts in fighting this c19, but not for consistent support for vaccinations and a loud silence on the progress in developing direct medical treatments for c19. 7.    The use of vaccinations as an economic commodity. 8.    The branding, politicisation and consequent  divisiveness resulting from use of vaccinations for the masses. 9.   Not reminding us that every c19 vaccine is approved under provisional and emergency conditions. 10.  The pattern of emerging c19 strains that are more infectious and the fact that vaccinated people can still be infected with them - with the accompanying message that personal hygiene measures from 2020 are no longer enough. #yongkevthoughts

Musings in the Time of Covid

The screws tighten, Are we frightened? Our spirits are more than dampened, as confusion becomes more rampant. The hidden enemy jumps, seems to be doing a dump, after coming in, and then some, at us it fiddles more than its thump. Instead of being inspired, we are cajoled, with many things soon to expire. What is the truth between the changing flames of fire, This is what we most desire. Why was danger allowed to roam, before they wrecked us inside the home. Why only react and respond, when the ability to prevent was not gone? How were the lessons not learnt, as the same patterns of omit, breach and damage repeat? Hijacked agendas, lack of detail and hidden themes not discerned, False confidence turning out to be the harbinger of defeat. Winners write the books, A Blame Game tries to put players off the hook. Common folk get kicked in the foot, whilst the blessed few get to keep the loot. Under the pressure of restraint and constraint, we are asked to behave and do as we are told. Whose interests are we asked to help maintain, at least in war, we can be more sure of whom and what to hold. When will this nightmare end, as we sit in our bunkers for endless nights unplanned. Will the promised manna be truly godsent, to relieve us from uncertainty just around the bend? Reflecting on: The Fall of Singapore - 1942 The Rise of Delta - Sydney 2021. #yongkevthoughts

Eighteen Months On

6 July 2021 - 11am. The USA Government has not reached its planned c19 related vaccination targets set by President Biden. On the 245 th anniversary of its founding, Stateside had undergone a tumultous year of continued racial divisions, a widespread Coronavirus affliction, political drama and reaffirmed some values and approaches in how it interacts with the rest of the world. Australia as a Federation has reached its 120th year.  Most of its population resides in its south-eastern corner.  The continental island can be as wide as mainland USA, but only has 7.8 percent of the American population. Vaccination, rightly or wrongly, has been emphasised by both Governments to manage the never ending spread of c19.  Canberra is however way behind its vaccination targets and continues to offer an ever changing scenario in this space. Sydney still grapples with a resurgence in c19 local transmission infections.  Although relatively small in numbers, this new outbreak starting at Bondi is said to be dealing with a more infectious mutant strain. The public may not have been fully informed about the severity, or lack of severity, of symptoms of those who tested positive with mostly the Delta strain, although a few hospitalisations or ICU admissions have occured amongst the so far accumulated 330 identified cases in Greater Sydney since 16 June. Melbourne and regional Victoria managed to come out from its fourth c19 related lockdown in June, after a leakage from a returned overseas passenger who was infected in an Adelaide quarantine hotel. By the middle of 2021, Australia has had its international borders mainly closed for around 16 months. In the same period, the character of the Commonwealth has been underlined by the lack of available workers for low paid jobs across several fronts, the shutting out of international students, the intensity of disagreements between state governments and Canberra, the best agricultural output yet in as many years and the smashing of conventions about inner city life. As many as perhaps a third of the workers at the Summitcare Aged Care facility in the north western Sydney suburb of Baulkham Hills were reported as not yet been vaccinated. The focus on this matter came about after five aged care residents at this facility were tested positive with Delta after being infected originally by a staff member. Is there vaccination  hesitancy amongst aged care sector workers, due to lack of confidence in the only available two brands -  or is it more of the risks of personal loss of earnings if they suffer post vaccination side effects?   There is also a real fear by employers at aged care facilities in Australia that they may find a drought in staff availability, if they are all required to be vaccinated.  This can be a chicken and egg scenario that illustrates the bungled roll out of c19 vaccines in Australia, despite the Canberra bubble and state governments touting vaccinations as the manna from heaven in this presumed epidemic. Canberra has so far stumbled on implementation, revised opinions and continued their mixed messaging in this vaccination process for the public.   Their other key tasks in this age of c19 has been to manage our international borders,  help the states quarantine the continuing flow of overseas arrivals at capital city airports and have its medical bureaucrats make pronouncements on how to handle c19. Governments of the Australian states and territories, in varying behaviour, have shown how aggressively independent they can be.  This may not be a negative development, especially in their dealings with Canberra.  Observers can note the divisions arising from political party alignments; the different risk tolerance taken in public health management ( reflect on the different appraches, say between Western Australia and NSW); the frequent use of state border closures, with little time notifications given; and the outcomes for states and territories, bearing the brunt and consequences of poor logistics, lack of attention to detail and many broad and generalised announcements from Canberra. NSW has always had the state government being very consistent in one particular restriction, when any c19 cluster hits Sydney - no singing, no dancing.  At times, outsiders can mistakenly  perceive NSW as one mass school of the performing arts.  Policy changes  by the NSW State Government, since March 2020, have otherwise varied on the usefulness of wearing face masks, the inclusion or exclusion of areas outside Sydney proper as " Greater Sydney", the timing of introducing lockdowns and providing various details or omitted information about daily confirmed positives. Where NSW has been perhaps the most liberal in the current Sydney lockdown, compared to other states,  experts have pointed out the absence of a ceiling in km for travel restriction; the variety of retail outlets that can still open during a so called lockdown; the requirement of face masking only indoors; and  the lack of better controls on vulnerable sectors like medical hubs, aged care homes and shopping clusters. And the children!   This demographic has been paid least attention, until the recent focus on pushing more extensive vaccination rates throughout communities.  Will this help achieve the supposed benefits of reaching herd immunity, or is there another unspoken agenda?  Schools in the Bondi area have reported Delta infections in children. The lack of compliance with common sense social distancing can be a distinct feature of human behaviour in Sydney, since the Bondi cluster was reported on 16 June.  The love of the outdoors by fellow Aussies, on the other hand,can be a good habit in reducing the risks of catching c19, as proper ventilation always helps. Ventilation can be reduced in flow and quality inside crowded indoor venues.  Delta case infections have been confirmed from parties in inner city Waterloo and suburban West Hoxton, having  a meal in Paddington  and taking a domestic flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney. The current Delta strain pattern of infection cases can seem to be deja vu for Sydney - overseas arrivals as the source, household contact cases, workers unintentionally affecting hospitals and aged care homes, infection clusters are detected at work places, people getting infected eating at indoor venues and infectees with no symptoms allowed to travel far from home. There can be increasing reluctance to affect the economy after so many months of c19. A lockdown does not only curtail physical movement for individuals, but it also can negatively affect turnover in sales and revenues for business models still using physical stores. The NSW state Government seems to rely on ever changing daily case numbers to make decisions.  These can range from infections picked up from testing,  a listing of exposure spots, active cases remaining, number of cases linked, number of infectees moving about in the community while still being infectious and number of new reported cases who have already been isolating at home, etc. Covid  has been more than a field day for statisticians!  To me, perhaps the most significant to watch for is the growth or reduction in the list of exposure sites. This tells me whether the Delta is still moving ahead of historical contact tracing. #yongkevthoughts

Malaysia - Serious Covid 19 Wave

I deeply pray that the escalating spread of Covid 19 in Malaysia is better controlled, overcome and resolved. However, how can members of the public better protect and manage themselves, should the epidemic escalate? The public and private hospital system can go into operational chaos and rupture, buckling by the sheer numbers of patients. Are managers of such facilities already preparing, securing vital equipment and supplies, while also revamping their work processes, retraining their staff and enhancing their business continuity plans? Foreign governments can impose tighter restrictions on movement of individuals who have been in Malaysia. For Malaysian nationals overseas, they may have to delay their return to their home country. The higher education sector around the world and in Malaysia itself has vested interests already shaken up in 2020 - and a serious rampage of Covid 19 within the nation itself can make things worse. If the public health scenario deteriorates in Malaysia, neighbouring Singapore faces a double edged sword of consequences. The island republic has served admirably well as a refuge from turmoil. What is different now are the higher risks of infection for a well developed island that is only separated by two causeways from the Malaysian peninsular. This has manifestations in the procurement of supplies, trade, political relationships, shipping and transport management. At the same time, Singapore's attraction as a beacon for investment, financial stability, reliable governance and an excellent medical services hub can be enhanced. Will some nations rush to help the Malaysian people and government in such a time of need? The UK, EU, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore are most likely to help. What about the able Islamic fellowship nations and members of ASEAN? The Federation of Malaysia also poses unique angles of management, as it is separated by the South China Sea into two geographical areas. Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, has recently experienced a spike of new Covid 19 cases each day - and so have Selangor, Johor and Kelantan sited on the Peninsular. Will the varying political treatment of each state by the central government play into the effectiveness of helping out the common person on the street, caught up in the ugliness and confusion of an epidemic? Are there sufficient supplies already available of testing kits, vaccinations and numerous items required in anciallary medical services? There is also a risk in heightening racial, religious, cultural and social sensitivities during a period of a health crisis. The social demographics are another spanner in the works, as already experienced before Covid 19 arrived. Earlier waves of Covid 19 affected specific groups of Malaysians, but the recent outbreaks have become more pervasive and embracing. Will there be sufficient leadership and innovative approaches to curtail the relentless spread of this Coronavirus as soon as possible? A strong infection wave will also further weaken the economic and financial structure of a country that depends on investment growth, exports, tourism, agriculture and petroleum resources. Malaysia plays a smaller role than India in providing call centres and corporate accounting support, but can have its reliability damaged in such services with a Covid epidemic. The durian plantations have already suffered with curbs on international border entry, collapse of tourism and restrictions on air travel in the past 15 months. What is next? 7 May 2021 #yongkevthoughts

Exceptions for the Privileged Few

Our international borders have been declared officially closed since March 2020. However, more than 14000 Australians have reportedly left the country, more than once, since Covid 19 arrived. These include military, diplomats, government officials, people seeking medical assistance and other categories. They have all been given exemptions by the Federal Government. I am more interested in the detail of the other categories. This is for a national population of around 25 million. So around 0.00056 per cent have been granted permissions to leave more than once. Often, it is not the statistical percentage that counts, but the reasons why and how. Voters lose faith in government policies when exceptions are allowed without a reasonable explanation. The majority of Australians have been compliant, restricting their personal movements, mostly within their states. Even the media around the world has remarked how compliant most Aussies have been since 2020, breaking our previous track record as often going walkabout, driving long distances and as frequent backpackers overseas per capita of population. Domestically in Australia, many individuals have just put up with a stiff upper lip, bit their tongue and kicked their heels in, while not being able to physically see their loved ones, mostly interstate, even for significant life events, delaying weddings, medical procedures and more. Go figure. #yongkevthoughts