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PM urges Malaysians to stay home and protect family

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin went on live television yesterday to appeal to all Malaysians to “just stay at home” and abide by the 14-day Movement Control Order to break the chain of the Covid-19 infection, which has infected hundreds in the country and killed two.

In his address, Muhyiddin said the purpose of the Movement Control Order that came into force yesterday is to prevent people from gathering in certain areas that will expose them to the possibility of being infected by Covid-19.

“During these two weeks, everyone and their children just have to stay home. Just stay at home. Spend time with your children, wives and family members. No need to go out anywhere. In this way, you are prevented from being infected by Covid-19 and the spread of this outbreak, God-willing, can be curbed. This is the true purpose of the Movement Control Order implemented by the government,” he said.

“The purpose is for you to stay home. Stay at home and protect yourself and your family,” he stressed.

Muhyiddin said he had to raise the issue as he saw many Malaysians sought to return to their home towns on Tuesday, with many crowding the highways heading north, south and east of Malaysia. Bus stations were also seen filled with people attempting to “balik kampung”.

“I am appealing to everyone. Please. Stay put wherever you are. If you are in Kuala Lumpur, stay in Kuala Lumpur. [For] those in Johor Baru, stay in Johor Baru. [For] those in Penang, stay in Penang. If you are planning to go back to your home town, please cancel the plan. I’m only asking [that] for this two-week period,” he said.

He further warned the government may have to extend the period of the movement control order if the containment effort does not succeed.

As such, he said it is important for everyone to abide by the order and isolate themselves as much as possible in their respective homes.

“As the prime minister, I have a great responsibility to address this crisis that is plaguing our country. But I can’t do this job alone. I need all of your support,” he added.

As at noon yesterday, the country recorded another 117 new cases of Covid-19 infection, bringing the total confirmed cases to 790. It also confirmed 11 cured cases, bringing the tally of those who have recovered to 60. The country recorded its first two deaths from the virus on Monday, one each in Sarawak and Johor.

Failure to contain virus may result in ‘tsunami’ of third-wave infections

Muhyiddin’s appeal came hours after the ministry of health’s (MoH) director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the country — now the worst Covid-19-hit nation in Southeast Asia following a spike in infections that have been traced to a large religious gathering in Sri Petaling here — has a “slim chance” of curbing the infection.

“Please help the MoH by playing your role, as each individual is responsible to take all steps of precaution for the safety of yourself and your family. Failure is not an option here. [If that happens], we might face the third wave of the virus, which will next be bigger, like a tsunami, especially if we have the ‘tidak kisah’ (don’t care) attitude,” he said via a social media post, as he implored Malaysians to stay home.

On the same day, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan warned that anyone breaching the nationwide Movement Control Order can be charged and imprisoned.

In a Facebook post, Takiyuddin said a breach of the order is deemed a criminal and moral offence and that those found violating the order could be imprisoned for up to two years or fined, or both, in accordance with the country’s law on the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Source: TheEdgeMarkets