Movement Control Order: Most businesses need to close from Wednesday
CORONAVIRUS | Putrajaya has imposed an order that will limit movements for two weeks in a bid to slow down the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus.
CORONAVIRUS | Putrajaya has imposed an order that will limit public movement for two weeks from March 18 until March 31, in a bid to slow down the spread of the deadly Covid-19.
The movement control order involves the following:
1. A ban on all mass gatherings, including religious, sports, social and cultural activities.
All business premises will have to close, except supermarkets, wet markets, grocery shops and convenience stores.
2. All Malaysians are banned from travelling abroad while Malaysians returning from abroad will have to undergo health screenings and undergo self-quarantine for 14 days.
3. Entry restrictions for foreign tourists and visitors.
4. The suspension of all schools and learning institutions.
5. All higher learning institutions and skill training centres will have to close.
6. All government and private premises must close except for essential services - water, electricity, energy, telecommunications, postal services, transport, maritime, fuel, gas, lubricants, broadcast, financial services, banking, healthcare, pharmacies, fire and rescue, prisons, ports, airports, security, defence, cleaning and supplying of food.
Announcing this today, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (photo) said he was aware that these measures would cause public inconvenience.
"However, these measures are necessary to prevent the spread of Covid-19 which could potentially cost lives," he said.
The announcement also said that work-from-home arrangements for the civil service and private sector should be encouraged, except for essential services.
Among others, the announcement stated that all public gathering venues, such as places of worship, cinemas and entertainment centres, are to be closed. All these places must also be sanitised.
Muhyiddin also said that all public transport networks will remain open and subjected to sanitisation works.
However, the prime minister's speech has raised many questions, which his office said will be answered by the National Security Council tomorrow.
Among the questions that have been raised to the Prime Minister's Office include:
1. How does the ruling affect Malaysians who travel from Johor to Singapore for work daily?
2. What is the penalty or offence for those who defy the movement control order? Who will enforce it, police or army?
3. In case of an emergency such as the death of relatives or medical emergencies, will Malaysians be allowed to leave the country?
The prime minister said the number of Covid-19 infections had risen exponentially around the world.
"Certainly, brothers and sisters, you do not want the same to happen here," he said.
Muhyiddin said Malaysians could not wait for the situation to get worse and drastic measures were necessary to curb the spread of the virus.
He urged Malaysians to be patient in facing this challenge and not panic.
"I believe that these measures taken by the government will stop the spread of the virus soon," he said.
The prime minister said countries such as China has taken drastic measures and it had helped reduce the number of infections.
Muhyiddin promised that food supplies, necessities and face masks will be sufficient during this period.
"I urge my brothers and sisters to always obey this order on the regulation of movements.
"This is our joint responsibility and we must do it together, for our families, society and country," he said.
Muhyiddin also said he would chair the National Security Council meeting every day, monitor the situation and provide periodical updates.
The text of Muhyiddin's speech is as follows:
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