KUALA LUMPUR: The National Security council (NSC) agreed to enforce the Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide, effective May 12 until June 7.
This was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin this evening after the decision for a nationwide MCO 3.0 was reached in a special NSC Covid-19 Management meeting which he chaired today.
He said taking into account the rise in daily Covid-19 cases, the government decided to take stricter measures to curb the infection among the public.
He however assured that all economic sectors were allowed to operate during this MCO 3.0 period.
"Malaysia is currently facing the third wave of Covid-19 infection which can spark a national crisis, with the country recording cases over 4,000 daily and 37,396 active cases and 1,700 fatalities as of May 10.
"The existence of new variants with higher infection rates, the critical toll on the public health system and the weaknesses in the adherence of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) have forced the government to take drastic measures to prevent the country from heading into a tragedy."
He said data analysis revealed that mass gatherings or people in crowded spaces led to the difficulty in observing physical distancing which then led to the virus spreading.
"The chain of Covid-19 infection can only be broken by encouraging the public to continue to stay at home via a strict movement control order," he said.
During the MCO, Muhyiddin said among others, all education institutions will be closed and exemption will be given to students sitting for international exams.
All child care centres, preschools, nurseries and kindergartens are allowed to operate according to the stipulated SOP to ease the work of parents and guardians.
Only three people, including the driver, are allowed to travel in a private car, taxi or e-hailing vehicles.
The number of people allowed in a vehicle carrying a load and the economic and industrial activity chain depends on the number allowed on a commercial vehicle registration license.
Muhyiddin said the number of people allowed in public transportation must conform to physical distancing and the adherence of the SOP.
It is compulsory for employers to implement the Work From Home policy with the presence of less than 30 per cent of management staff at any one time.
The policy for the public sector would be determined by a guideline expected to be issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government from time to time.
Muhyiddin said special measures that were being enforced in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan would continue.
The enforcement of the interstate and interdistrict travel ban as well as social activities, sports and education came into effect today until June 6, as announced by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on May 8, he said.
Muhyiddin stressed upon the ban on interstate and district travels, saying exemptions are only granted for emergencies, health, work, economy, vaccinations and long-distance spouses.
All social gatherings including feasts or kenduri, weddings and engagement parties, doa selamat and tahlil, dinner events, birthdays and official events organised either public or private, as well as seminars, conferences and face-to-face meetings are not allowed.
"Only nikah ceremonies are allowed with a limited number of guests and SOP will be implemented by state religious authorities for Muslims and the National Registration Department for non-Muslims.
"All sports and recreational activities are barred, except for those done individually in open spaces such as jogging, cycling and exercising while complying with physical distancing," he said.
The government, he added, would continue to use the Hotspot Identification for Dynamic Engagement (HIDE) system to monitor premises and Covid-19 hotspots and take subsequent actions as it had decided.
"I hope the people will continue to be disciplined and comply with the SOP to break the Covid-19 infection chain and flatten the curve. It is best to stay at home if there is nothing important to manage. Only we can protect our lives other than the will of God.
"We successfully did that during the first and second wave of the transmission. I would like to remind the people that the third wave we are facing now is even more vicious and critical. We have not won.
"The virus will become weak and defeated if we practice high self-discipline, which is not hard to do.
"Avoid crowded spaces, practice physical distancing, always wear face masks in public places and clean your hands at all times apart from ensuring good personal hygiene," he said.