A MAJORITY of people support an extension of the movement control order, which has been in place since March 18, according to a poll by the National Security Council (NSC).

As of 8pm tonight, some 89% of about 165,300 people who took part in the survey on the NSC’s official Telegram chat group chose “Yes” when asked if they supported extending the MCO beyond April 28.

The poll began at 4.35pm today. 

“Should the MCO to be extended after this April 28?” the question reads.

The NSC held an earlier poll on April 9, asking respondents if the MCO should be extended into its third and current phase.

Followers had then also voted in favour of an extension.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin tonight announced that the MCO will be extended a further two weeks to May 12.

Some MCO restrictions will however, be relaxed, with plans in the offing to allow some 100,000 university students stuck on campuses nationwide to return home. 

Muhyiddin also said that more businesses in certain sectors may be allowed to operate.

He did not elaborate and said more information would be revealed by the relevant ministries.

At his press briefing today, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said he met with Muhyiddin this morning to discuss six criteria needed before any decision to lift or extend the MCO.

Dr Noor Hisham has been advocating a “soft landing” approach to lifting MCO restrictions to a “new normal”, where social distancing and personal hygiene are observed and mass gatherings barred.  

Malaysia today recorded 71 new Covid-19 cases and two more deaths.

The cumulative number of cases now stands at 5,603 while the death toll is 95.

There continues to be more recoveries than positive cases, with 90 patients discharged today, taking the total number of who have recovered to 3,542.

After deaths and recoveries, there are 1,966 active cases. – April 23, 2020.