DESPITE significant signs of improvement, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced that the third phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO), that ends on April 28, will be extended by another two weeks till May 12.
Meanwhile, the government will continue to monitor developments to decide on whether the MCO will be extended the following month.
With the extension, even though Malaysians might not be able to celebrate the upcoming Raya festivities in their hometowns like before, Muhyiddin stressed that what’s most important is keeping families safe.
In light of the significant drop in new Covid-19 cases, Muhyiddin announced that the government is putting in place plans to transport students stranded in university campuses back to their homes.
The government is also considering allowing those stuck in their hometowns before the imposition of the MCO to return to their homes in the cities.
Those affected can register online via a platform created by the police or make an appointment at the nearest police station so the local authorities can prepare and avoid traffic issues.
He added that these efforts will involve the movement of a large number of people and will require careful planning and that the government is looking into the most efficient transportation methods.
The students will need to make sure that they are in good health and exhibit no symptoms before travelling back to their homes.
Earlier, the PM said that should the trend continue to show a significant reduction in Covid-19 cases, the government is considering loosening the MCO restrictions in stages.
Although there is a possibility of the MCO being further extended, the government is thinking of allowing certain sectors and sub sectors to operate subject to strict regulations so that businesses can stay afloat and people can return to their jobs.
The government assures that it is looking into ways to revive the economy by gradually lifting the MCO in stages so that economic activities can rebound quickly and return to normalcy once the MCO ends.
It is already in the process of drafting detailed revival plans for the short, medium and long terms aimed at increasing investor and consumer confidence.
Among the initiatives will be boosting domestic spending and improving the people’s livelihood. – April 23, 2020
