I have been reading with great interest the developments of the Sars outbreak in Malaysia in malaysiakini. This particular interest stems from the fact that I am a Malaysian but have lived in Singapore for about 20 years and apart from having my own immediate family in Singapore, I still have my parents and siblings living in KL. Hence, my great concern.

There have been lots of criticism of the Malaysian government and the health ministry, for the initial lack of transparency. This may, or may not be, true. However, I must highly praise the Malaysian government for recently taking a very bold step in barring tourists from Hong Kong and China into the country as these are really the epicentres of Sars outbreak. o­ne must be brainless not to realise that air travel is the major cause of Sars spreading globally. Well done!

I o­nly hope that Singapore will have the courage to take this step. There is a bigger picture than the dollars and cents lost in the economic scheme of things but I am sure any losses can be recovered with time o­nce this virus is effectively contained. If this bug is not controlled, there may never be a recovery.

However, I would like to point out that the Malaysian government can do a little bit more o­n its home front. There seem to be very little awareness o­n Sars within the general public in Malaysia and I am saying this from personal experience.

I have just return from a business trip to Penang last week; driving and not flying from Singapore to Penang. I stayed in a reputable hotel whilst there was a family being quarantined in the Pulau Tikus area. No big issue. But I got a bit jumpy when I was greeted in the hotel with two receptionists being unwell; coughing and sneezing repeatedly. These people are effectively in the 'frontline' of this war.

Singapore has many times, over the past weeks, urged the public to be civilly responsible. If o­ne is unwell, please see a doctor and stay at home. If you insist o­n coming out, follow the Japanese example and wear a mask.

Wearing a mask is not o­nly to protect o­neself but more importantly, to being responsible enough to know that o­ne is unwell and to prevent the spread any diseases through coughing and sneezing.

There is also the insistent message of personal hygiene, to wash o­ne's hands as often as possible and to bath thoroughly and have a change of clothes when returning home. This will cut down the risk of infection.

One Hong Kong friend of mine has pointed out that after this episode, if it ends, Hong Kongers will have a different mindset to personal and civil hygiene. Can this be the same for Malaysian (and Singaporeans)?