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Besides, printed materials such as banners, fishtails, posters, and flyers
were still effectively used to communicate simplified risk communication
messages to the public. These methods were mostly used in health facilities
such as government clinics and hospitals. Along with the usage of health
education materials published by the Health Education Division of MOH
Malaysia, local issues were also made for the public's suitability and needs,
comprising a heterogeneous range of ethnicity and languages. Exhibitions
were also held at all health clinics and public focused areas.

Mobile health units from District/Divisional Health Offices were also
involved in delivering messages directly through public announcements in
various local dialects to selected public areas . Certain supermarkets also
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conveyed cooperation in making scheduled announcements of important
messages regarding COVID-19 in preferred languages.

5.2.6 Engaging the Community in Rural Areas

Communication in the rural or remote areas, especially in Sabah and
Sarawak, was often limited by the lack of access to proper roads or the
internet. Working around that hurdle, one of the most effective ways of
reaching out to these communities was through media with extensive
coverage, such as the mass media of local radio stations or television
channels covered by parabolic satellite dishes. For areas with health
facilities nearby, the healthcare personnel would deliver the messages to
the local communities via direct interpersonal communication.

Trained health promoters were also mobilised to rural areas via the COMBI
(Communication for Behavioural Impact) and KOSPEN (Healthy Community
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Empowers the Nation) programmes to educate the community to be aware
and comply with the SOPs in the state’s effort to contain the spread of
COVID-19. Concurrently, these health promoters also helped facilitate the
delivery of risk communication messages to the community itself.

Community engagement in the rural areas often required cooperation from
the village heads and the Village Development and Security Committees
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(JKKKs) . For instance, the Sarawak Government launched the Community
Policing Programme , which covered the villages and longhouses in rural
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areas. Through this programme, JKKKs in Sarawak were empowered to
protect their respective communities and curb the COVID-19 in their areas.
The programme covered community leaders' roles and responsibilities in

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