So, the Movement Control Order is extended yet “yet” again to 12th May 2020.
Movement Control Order Extended (Again)
Now to 28th April 2020. That means 6 weeks total of MCO.
As most people expected. While Malaysia has relatively fewer deaths and more success against Covid-19 when compared to developed countries, it’s too risky to lift the movement control order just when nationwide compliance hit a peak of 95-99%.
Whether the MCO will end for real this time remains to be seen. At this juncture, all bets are off.
Movement Control Order Extended
So Movement Control Order (MCO) got extended to 14th April 2020.
But I am surprised that time seems to fly fast. Next thing I know, it’s been more than two weeks and coming to three. At this rate, in a few eye blinks it will be a full month since MCO was enforced in Malaysia.
Between working out and cooking almost all my meals at home, I’ve been working with the Musemancer team remotely.
You’d think that as a digital business, we’d have it easier. Yes, we have some advantages over most other types of business i.e. selling our digital products.
However I had put the launch life behind me more than 2 years ago – and I am not about to restart that, because it’s just no way to grow a business long term and sustainably.
And this is really a bad time to double down on live events, just when I was getting the hang of it! At the same time, agency work is a no-go – with most businesses closed and their own Customers staying home, there is no Facebook Ads to run for them.
This time I wish I was working solo from home like I did for several years before this; I’d sleep the whole MCO away like a holiday.
On the other hand, I am also thankful that the small size of my team is also an advantage; I can only imagine the stress and anxiety big business owners must be feeling now that not only their incomes have virtually come to a halt, they still have to pay their employees full salary. No unpaid leaves.
It’s scary how this crisis revealed most people and even businesses we think are doing well are really, literally 1 month paycheck from broke.
I have my doubts the MCO will be lifted as scheduled, and I’m prepared for the possibility it will be extended again. There is no cure to covid-19 found just yet, and with number of new cases springing up daily, most people aren’t going to take a chance.
And even if the MCO is lifted on time, I anticipate business will be slow not only in Malaysia but worldwide. As I am writing this, 2/5th of the countries in the world are in a state of lock down.
I have my team to rally and Mentorship students to motivate. Like it or not, everyone is thrusted into a “30 day challenge” of sorts.
2 solutions I can think of right now:
- Ramp up on digital products i.e. online courses and webinars, or
- Double down on E-commerce (something that I wasn’t that fond of initially, that I took the FB Ads skill to do agency and lead gen instead)
Well, my business had negotiated tough waters throughout the 15 years I’ve been here. And I’m not about to quit now.
The fight is on. What a time to be alive.
Movement Control Order
What do you know? There is now a Movement Restriction Order throughout Malaysia (and in many places throughout the world) What an interesting time to be in?
The MRO is in effect until 31st March 2020 and until then, most businesses, religious sites, organizations, are closed.
The team and I are working from home. It’s high time we go back to our roots – digital product marketing.
UPDATE: The movement control order is extended to 14th April 2020. I expected that, and with the way things are now, it is for the best.
Melaka – 11 Years Later
CORRECTION: I thought it’s been 12 years since I last came here. It’s actually 11 years, the last time being in 2009.
Came here with a crew of 3 to conduct the Business Wealth Workshop seminars. Enjoyed touring the historical city in between. Would love to come back here again, if only to chill.
