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State of Emergency facilitates MCO implementation, says Ismail Sabri [NSTTV]

KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of the State of Emergency is vital for the government to efficiently enforce the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the declaration of emergency had benefitted the government in many ways including facilitating the management of Covid-19 cases.

"For instance, previously the armed forces cannot detain those who are sneaking into the country through illegal routes and have to wait for the police to arrive before action can be taken.

"But now they can make arrests and even place detainees in the lockup if needed. The emergency ordinance has made the powers of the armed forces to be equal to the police," he told reporters today.

Ismail Sabri said the government may also take action against employers who refuse to allow their foreign workers to get tested for Covid-19.

He also said with the emergency ordinance, the government could acquire the use of private hospitals to treat the Covid-19 patients and even use its buildings as quarantine centres for Stage 1 and 2 patients if needed.

The government may use the private hospitals' laboratories for testings as well, he said.

Ismail Sabri said the hospitals may face fines up to RM 5 million while its operator may also be jailed if they refused to extend their cooperation.

"If possible, we do not want to force them. So the Health Ministry will request to use their facilities. If they refuse, then we can enforce the law."

However, he said the implementation of new ordinances must be consented by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah beforehand.

His Majesty had consented to the proclamation of an emergency due to the worrying Covid-19 pandemic in the country based on Clause 1 under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution until Aug 1.

This is following the government's move to reimpose MCO at Selangor, Penang, Melaka, Johor, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan following a spike in the Covid-19 cases.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the MCO would be in effect for two weeks until Jan 26.

The Health Ministry projected that the daily cases will reduce to between 1,000 and 500 within four to five weeks.

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