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PUTRAJAYA: There are calls for a more stringent standard operating procedure (SOP), including placement
Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya under an enhanced motion control (MCO) order to effectively stop Covid-19 infections, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob
But he said this needs to be closely evaluated, as putting these areas in lockdown would affect not only the economy but also people, particularly the self-employed and those who earn daily wages.
He said the Health Ministry had been asked to investigate the matter and assess current standard operating procedures in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, which some had deemed “too lax.”
“We have asked the ministry to study the matter and give the National Security Council (MKN) an assessment of the situation,” he said in his daily briefing.
He said that while placing these areas under an improved MCO would help reduce the number of Covid-19 cases, the economy would have to shut down, movement would be completely restricted, and food supplies would have to be shipped.
“Yes, the easiest thing is to close everything and not allow people to leave their homes, but there are other considerations that must be taken into account,” he added.
Ismail Sabri was asked if the government considered it necessary to put these areas under improved OLS, especially Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, where certain activities such as going to the gym and public parks are allowed.
Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya have been placed under conditional MCO from October 14 to 27.
Regarding Sabah, Ismail Sabri said that MKN considered that the improved MCO was not necessary at the moment, as localities with a large number of cases had been blocked.
“The Ministry of Health is monitoring the situation in the state on a daily basis and we will await the evaluation of the authorities to see if it merits a stricter order,” he said.
On the other hand, the minister has assured Malaysians working in Singapore that they are not prevented from returning and that they can do so at any time after submitting an application.
“We have received requests from Malaysians who want to go home because they miss their families. It’s not that we don’t allow them to return.
“We have announced that our citizens of Singapore can return at any time by land or air. They can apply for the MyTravelPass from the Immigration Department, ”he said.
He said that those planning to return without using the Periodic Transportation Agreement (PCA) with Singapore could enter through the Sultan Iskandar and Sultan Abu Bakar customs, immigration and quarantine complexes, be screened for Covid-19 and quarantined. of 14 days.
He said details can be obtained on the websites of the Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He also reminded employers to send their foreign security guards for Covid-19 screening before allowing them to go to work, as it was a mandatory SOP.
He pointed to the case of the 1Utama shopping center in Petaling Jaya that had to be closed for several days after a security guard tested positive for Covid-19.
In May, the government ordered all foreign security guards working in Malaysia to undergo Covid-19 smear tests following the discovery of a group among guards at a shopping mall in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
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