PUTRAJAYA: The implementation of numerous Movement Control Orders and economic stimulus packages worth RM305 billion in the past year reflects the commitment by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to protect the lives and livelihood of the people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In his speech in conjunction with the PN government's one year anniversary today, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the measures were implemented to curb the spread of the virus and lessen the burden of the people apart from ensuring business continuity.
"Alhamdulillah. With the support from frontliners, civil servants, enforcement and security agencies, the private sector and the community, the measures implemented by the government produced a positive outcome," said Muhyiddin in his special address themed "Setahun Malaysia Prihatin".
The event at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here was also broadcast live.
The country, he said, had been hit by three waves of the Covid-19 pandemic in the past year.
"We managed to flatten the curve during the first wave of the virus, prevent the spread of the virus during the second wave of the pandemic and daily cases are registering a declining trend during the third wave of the pandemic," he said.
The Prime Minister said the country was currently facing three waves of Covid-19 infection.
"Our country's health system is not only able to survive but has become more effective in treating Covid-19 patients," he said.
He said the country's Covid-19 death rate in was among the lowest in the world at 0.4 per cent with more than 90 per cent of those infected recovered.
Muhyiddin added that the nation's economy also showed signs of improvement from the adverse impact brought about by the pandemic.
"The country's economy contracted 1.7 per cent in December last year compared to 28.7 per cent during the peak of the pandemic on April during the same year.
"The unemployment rate has also dropped from 5.3 per cent in May last year to 4.8 per cent in December during the same year," he said.
During the implementation of the second phase of the MCO, Muhyiddin said the government has sought to strike a balance between the importance of public health and the need to ensure economic growth.
"Thus, the government had decided to provide flexibility by opening more economic activities with strict compliance of the standard operation procedures (SOP) as compared during the implementation of the first MCO last year.
"The SOP for all economic activities has also been improved with involvement of associations and chambers of commerce."