Malaysia extends MCO by two weeks to Feb 18

Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA has extended the Movement Control Order (MCO) which was scheduled to end on Feb 4 to Feb 18.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob said all states, except for Sarawak, will come under the MCO, the New Straits Times reported.

He said the government has decided to extend it after the health ministry reported that the daily Covid-19 cases in all states remained high.

"Following this, the National Security Council special meeting has agreed to extend the MCO starting from Feb 5 to Feb 18," he said.

He added that interstate travel has been barred for the next phase of the MCO because opening up the borders recently led to an increase in Covid-19 cases.

"Up to 31 clusters linked to interstate travel emerged after that," he said.

Other restrictions that will apply will be to limit the number of patrons in supermarkets. But restrictions for some sectors like small businesses will be relaxed.

"We are aware that if we shut it down totally, it will cause hardship to the people, especially the poor, or those earning daily wages.

Malaysia lost RM2.4 billion (S$791.5 million) daily when the government shut down the economic sector completely.

Mr Ismail Sabri urged Malaysians to stay at home as much as possible as " cases are still high and the virus is still around us".

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) has put forward three demands to the government in the wake of the extension of the Movement Control Order .

Fomca president Marimuthu Nadason said the onus is on the government to ensure people "have food on their table".

"Firstly, the government must extend the blanket loan moratorium in tandem with the MCO extension.

"Secondly, the government must distribute a RM5,000 allowance for workers who have been retrenched due to the implementation of the MCO."

The organisation also wants the government to provide a RM1,200 allowance, or the minimum wage amount for unemployed individuals.