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[ UPDATE 1/1/2021 01:50 ]: It appears that the RMCO rules have been extended until March 31, 2021. More details here.
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The current Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) is scheduled to end today on December 31, 2020. During the Prime Minister’s address to the nation tonight, no extension was mentioned that left many Malaysians wondering what is going on. following?
At the time of writing, the National Security Council (NSC) has yet to provide an update on the latest RMCO that is currently applied nationally until today. Due to the high number of new cases in various states, the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) for Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, and Selangor has been extended until January 14, 2021.
According to the NSC website, the latest published SOPs currently apply through December 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. The documents include a list of prohibited activities and economic sectors, permitted hours of operation, and various protocols for different segments. Even the FAQ link for CMCO areas currently leads to a 404 page.
Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has not provided any updates regarding the RMCO and would generally let the Prime Minister make the announcement. Malaysia has been subject to the Movement Control Order for 289 days since March 18, 2020.
Without an official extension for the RMCO, what does this mean for states that are not under the CMCO? Can business owners operate pre-MCO hours? Can the authorities penalize people who do not wear a mask? Are Malaysians still prohibited from traveling abroad? Can we hold large-scale events?
These are questions that should be answered loud and clear to avoid misunderstandings. Remember the MySejahtera SOP confusion at gas stations?
Although the government has lifted several restrictions to boost the economy, the Prime Minister has urged everyone not to be complacent with the relaxed restrictions because the battle against COVID-19 is not over. He reminded the public to continue to adhere to the POE to reduce the spread of the disease.
With a new record of 2,525 COVID-19 cases reported today, it is clear that we are not out of the woods yet and some form of motion control order is still needed. Even with the vaccine, PCOS are still necessary and it is something that we should all practice for a long time. For now, everyone must continue to play their role in controlling the pandemic, including wearing face masks in public, frequent hand washing and social distancing.
The government really should make the status of the RMCO clear as soon as possible. This is to reduce the risk of misinformation from irresponsible parties as people search for answers.
