INTENSE PACE IN PUTRAJAYA
Fatigue is creeping up on members of the media who are tasked with covering the administrative capital
PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 92, hit the ground running after Pakatan Harapan (PH) won the 14th General Election (GE14).
Many reporters half his age or younger have a tough time keeping up with Dr Mahathir, resulting in a number of us taking some vitamins just to keep up.
It was a hectic period in the administrative capital after May 9 when the GE14 results saw the birth of new Malaysia.
Dr Mahathir began his official duties as the seventh prime minister operating from the Perdana Leadership Foundation for about two weeks.
And, for two weeks, we reporters camped outside the foundation, taking down the names of those who came to see the prime minister and trying to stop them when they exited the gate by throwing ourselves in front of their moving vehicles.
Thank God, the drivers maintained slow speed as they carefully navigated their vehicles through the horde of reporters. Most of those inside the vehicles would give us a friendly wave, but most of them declined to comment.
For those who stopped and gave us the much-needed quotes to appease our bosses, I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart.
It was not easy guarding the foundation gate for two weeks as the weather was mostly hot and there were not many trees providing shade for us to take refuge from the blazing heat.
Most of us have developed quite a good tan, despite our efforts to slap on sun block as high as SPF50.
As we waited for the arrival and departure of the prime minister’s guests, there were a number of curious onlookers who made time and dropped by the foundation to check things out.
They whipped out their mobile phones and began taking selfies and pictures of reporters who braved the sun and the rain to relay news of happenings at the foundation.
On the third week, Dr Mahathir chaired his first cabinet meeting after naming the core ministers. It was the same week that the newly-appointed ministers clocked in and the ministries were buzzing with activity.
The newly-appointed ministers seemed to be taking their cue from Dr Mahathir because they, too, sat through a slew of meetings with the respective agencies under their ministries in the first week they reported for duty.
I understand the fast pace set by the current administration, as they have a tight deadline, 100 days to be exact, to fulfil pledges they made, including abolishing the Goods and Services Tax.
With such a frenetic pace in the coming months, all in the administrative capital, reporters included, must be ready to manage fatigue.
Experts are saying that fatigue increases the risk of injury or accidents. Perhaps it is wise to come up with a fatigue management plan.
Physical impact of fatigue includes a state of feeling very tired, exhausted, weary or sleepy.
Fatigue, which results from a lack of sleep, is said to be heightened by prolonged mental activity or long periods of stress or anxiety. And fatigue can be acute or chronic.
Acute fatigue has been described as resulting from a sudden onset of short-term sleep loss. Adequate sleep is necessary to reverse the effects of acute fatigue. Health experts say chronic fatigue is a long-term state that results from an extended loss of necessary sleep.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has listed several impacts of fatigue on its website. Among them are:
decision-making ability; planning; skills; formance;
ability to do complex communication productivity or per attention and vigilance;
ability to handle stress on the job, reduced reaction time — both in speed and thought;
of memory or the ability to recall details;
to respond to changes in surroundings or information provided, and unable to stay awake (for example, falling asleep while operating machinery or driving a vehicle);
tendency for risktaking;
sick time, absenteeism, rate of turnover; and,
medical costs, as well as incident rates.
As Malaysia heads towards a better future under the new government, those involved directly in the process should take care of their health. This also applies to journalists, photographers and cameramen who have been tasked with relaying news of the government’s efforts in building a stronger nation.
As for me, I will stock up on my vitamins and listen to more soothing zikir (the remembrance of Allah) to check my stress level.
Experts are saying that fatigue increases the risk of injuries or other accidents. Perhaps, it is wise to come up with a fatigue management plan.
With more than 15 years in journalism and a masters in Counselling Psychology, the writer is always drawn to the mystery of the human mind and behaviours