[ad_1]
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will lift movement restrictions for most states starting Monday (December 7), a cabinet minister announced on Saturday.
But the partial closures, called a Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), will run until December 20 for its capital city, Kuala Lumpur, Sabah state and six of Selangor’s nine districts.
Parts of the Negeri Sembilan and Johor states will also remain under the CMCO, Chief Minister (security group) Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.
He said that starting Monday, interstate travel will be allowed and all roadblocks will be removed.
Only areas under total lockdown, called Enhanced MCOs (EMCOs), such as those surrounding Top Glove’s factories and dormitories, will be off limits.
The areas under the EMCO have barbed wire fences installed around them to quarantine residents and allow health workers to conduct health screenings.
Most of Malaysia’s states, along with the federal territories of KL, Putrajaya and Labuan, were placed under CMCO from October onwards, as the country battles its third wave of coronavirus infections.
Curbs have been raised in Putrajaya and Labuan.
Ismail said in a televised speech that the widespread restrictions have come at a high price.
“Yesterday (December 4) I read on social networks that many are wondering what will happen tomorrow since the CMCO is expected to end,” he said.
“The government understands how difficult the situation can be. Like it or not, we have to get on with our lives.
“We are willing to lose RM300 million (S $ 98.6 million) per day if the CMCO is expanded … there will be more job losses and so on. So we must be careful in taking care of people and also of the economy, “he added.
According to the CMCO, although most economic activities were allowed to continue, only three people per household were allowed to leave their homes. Travel between states was prohibited, except for work and emergencies.
Schools and entertainment venues were closed during CMCO, while operating hours for restaurants, sundry stores, and convenience stores were restricted between 6 am and 10 pm.
Selangor and Kuala Lumpur have been under the CMCO since October 14, when Covid-19 cases spiked, partly caused by infections at Top Glove, the world’s largest latex glove maker, and at two sites in KL construction.
Sabah and Labuan have been placed under a similar order since October 13-17.
The CMCO of Perak, Penang and Negeri Sembilan was imposed as of November 9, while that of Kelantan was applied on November 21.
Malaysia reported 1,123 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, bringing the total to 71,359.
The death toll remained at 380 with the addition of four new deaths.
[ad_2]
