THE conditional movement-control order (CMCO) in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya is necessary to stop the spread of Covid-19, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

“It’s needed as the numbers are on the rise and all over the districts. The CMCO is a pre-emptive and protective action. Economic activity will not be affected. For example, pasar malam can still operate,” said Muhyiddin in his second press conference since becoming prime minister on March 1.

Prior to yesterday’s decision, Muhyiddin said the government had implemented targeted MCO in other districts such as Klang and Petaling Jaya.

“But from what is happening, it is too highly populated with cases all over Selangor. It’s on the rise, even in the yellow areas such as Hulu Langat.

“As such, what we have done is to reduce people’s movements, by closing schools for instance. Up to 1.2 million people have been affected by the closure.”

Muhyiddin said economic activity in the Klang Valley, however, has not been affected.

“Malls, markets must continue as we try to strike a balance between lives and livelihoods.”

Muhyiddin, however, conceded that the government had been slow to react when it came to implementing controls in Sabah.

“But it’s still not too late and not many lives were lost and it’s now under control,” said Muhyiddin in the video conference press conference with reporters.

“The spike in numbers was due to the Sabah elections, which was required as part of the law, but it’s currently under control and being managed quite well.”

He said although the government wanted to act earlier, the Sabah election campaign made it harder.

“The government has been following very closely on what was going on in Sabah and provided support etc. But because of the election, it was affected as campaigners have not followed SOP.”

The late lockdown referred to is the protocol for those returning from Sabah after the state elections that were held on September 26. 

The government only enforced mandatory Covid-19 testing upon arrival at airports starting September 27, and only required self-quarantine until the test results came back, as long as they were negative.

This meant people who tested negative were free from self-quarantine within a few days, instead of serving out the usual 14-day period.

The Health Ministry subsequently urged all those returning from Sabah since September 20 to come forward for Covid-19 testing, but by then the number of cases had already spiked. – October 13, 2020.