Managing the Covid-19 Pandemic Uncertainty Time and New Norm Through Transactional Leadership

Abstract

The aim of this research is to explore how the public perceive the leadership style of the Malaysian Government during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis in Malaysia.  The current Government is known as Pakatan Nasional (PN)and has been in power since March 1st, 2020 until today.  At the beginning of its reign, PN Government has received huge salutation and blessed from the nations but today the scenario has changed drastically with bad comments on their leadership style every day in the media social such as YouTube and Twitter. The biggest issue is on the series of Movement Control Order (MCO) and its impact to the public directly. Therefore, the researchers conducted six focus group discussions (FGDs) with three resident’s associations to comprehend how the public sees the Government leaders’ roles and whether the current leadership style is acceptable during the uncertainty time that requires the residents to suit their lives styles to new norm. The informants were not more than 12 persons during each meeting session on What’sApp and Telegram applications. The finding shows that majority of the residents would accept the current PN Government transactional leadership style despite the bad comments of the netizens in the social media. They understand the Government leaders’ roles and challenges the country faces. However, some decision making of the Government leaders have huge direct impact to the normal life styles of the residents that some could not coop yet such as loss of income, traveling restriction and working from home for employees.  This research outcomes could be an informative input for the relevant Government leaders and authorities when dealing with community at large scale from different walk of life about the public concerns and worries.