Implementation of conditional MCO a correct move - Muhyiddin
BERNAMA
13/10/2020 08:35 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 -- The decision to place Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) starting at 12.01 am on Oct 14 is a correct move to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the decision was made after observing the COVID-19 cases, particularly in Selangor which had surged in the past few days.
“Observing what has been happening over the number of days, in the case of Selangor, as it is so highly populated, cases have occurred all over the districts in Selangor and the trend has been on the rise. Even in the yellow zones, we can see that in Gombak and Hulu Langat (districts) there is a surge in the number (of cases).
“I think it is a correct move made by the National Security Council (MKN) to declare the state of Selangor under the CMCO to ensure that on the basis of preventive and proactive actions, what MKN has done can actually curb the pandemic,” he said in a virtual press conference, here, today.
Muhyiddin was asked to comment on Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari's statement which questioned the federal government's move to impose the conditional MCO on the entire state when not all areas were red zones.
The Prime Minister said Amirudin, however, has agreed to the federal government's decision after a phone call from Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, today.
Muhyiddin stressed that the CMCO was to reduce the movement of people while economic activities would not be affected.
“Pasar malam, pasar minggu can still operate because we understand there is a need to strike a of balance between protecting lives and livelihoods,” he said.
Muhyiddin said, although seen as drastic, the measure was important to protect the lives of Malaysians.
“If it happens in other states, if many areas have become yellow (zones), one or two districts already red, these are signals that we must not delay (in taking action) because if we are too late, many lives will be lost. That’s why we have taken such an action,” he added.
Asked whether the government would reimpose the Movement Control Order (MCO) if COVID-19 cases spread throughout the country, Muhyiddin said the government would implement strategies to control the outbreak, including providing everything needed by the Health Ministry.
“If there is a second MCO, we won’t be able to predict. Just (as the economy) starts to revive (and) almost RM300 billion allocated to assist the people, with a large portion of it already channelled, if there’s a second MCO, we will be forced to provide a much bigger sum,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
