LeadUS wishes to all my fellow Malaysians a Happy Eid Mubarak. On this blessed and joyful day, we celebrate the Eid in a new norm while waiting for the recovery from an invincible Covid-19 virus that has created unprecedented effect globally and yet to be fully assessed locally.

We used to have big and many open houses for Hari Raya for a month long of celebration. Now we only have one day on Aidil Fitri day to visit our family members with not more than 20 people in a locality. The new norm is telling us, it is time to shorten our Hari Raya celebration , no more open houses everywhere, every day for different department in the office, and every weekend until the traffic jam with nonstop foods and celebrations that contributed to the unhealthy lifestyle of our people.

While some of us have received their salary when celebrating Eid, but unfortunately for some may realize that their employer has decided to let them go earlier or cut their pay for multiple months when the companies got hit hard by the invincible Covid-19 virus especially in tourism, construction, airline, hotel, restaurant, consumer, retail, media, transportation, property and many other sectors.
 
As some of us may not realise yet , the new norm is asking the ordinary people- “Is my job safe?” How could I earn money for my own living and feeding my family as this Covid-19 may persist longer?

The Covid-19 virus is pushing us to the limit. And during this trying time, as what Dale Carnegie famous advice, “First ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen?”  It helps when you are facing monumental challenge in front of you to prepare to accept the worst and able to improve on the worst. You lost your job, that won’t stop you from finding another job. You got a pay cut, but you can rework your new life budget for the new norm. Easier said than done, even though it looks small steps, but it can make big difference getting yourself recover from your lows.

This powerful invincible Covid-19 virus that creates new norm of “Is my job safe” does not discriminate your skin, race, religion or status. It hits the ordinary people and interestingly the Job #1 in Malaysia as well - Is PM’s job safe?

As we advise the others how to remove the mountain, the new norm is telling the political sphere in our country that a new worst will keep popping up and those who prepare for the worst will edge over the others.

The new norm created by the Covid-19 as the business and government leaders are preparing for the worst year of recession or new term being coined “pandession” ,  will undoubtedly demand sustainability initiatives where it is the people-centered type of development with locally driven economy that will save the nation in the light of the super power is closing their own economic border.  

LeadUS Editorial Board

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