The government, through the Health Ministry, is considering placing Selangor under a stricter movement control order in order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 infections.
Photo via The Edge Markets
Senior Minister for Security, Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, the National Security Council (MKN) is reviewing a proposal to put Selangor under a total lockdown or enhanced movement control order (EMCO).
This follows the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases recently.
According to Free Malaysia Today, during a press conference on Monday (19 October), Ismail Sabri said the conditional movement control order (CMCO) affecting Selangor will remain until further assessment was done by the government.
The current CMCO, affecting Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Putrajaya, is set to end on 27 October.
Photo via RAPPLER
He added that they needed to first get different perspectives from the Health Ministry and other relevant ministries about how an EMCO will affect the different economic sectors, “It is true I have received many views that Selangor has too many cases. We are still assessing in detail the suggestion to change from CMCO to EMCO”.
“Under EMCO, individuals cannot leave their houses and food must be sent to every household,” he added.
He also said that if the EMCO is implemented, the economy will shut down and shops will not be allowed to open for business.
“There are also those who will be without income if they cannot operate their business.”
Therefore, there needed to be a balance between controlling the spread of the virus and the livelihood of the people, even though an EMCO would make it easier to control public movement.
This is how an EMCO area looks like, as what a Petaling Jaya resident experienced on 10 May 2020:
Don’t forget to follow the SOPs, guys. Take care of yourself and your loved ones against this terrible virus!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
