FORMER prime minister Najib Razak wants Putrajaya to introduce the strictest movement-control order (MCO) for at least two weeks following a spike in the number of Covid-19 clusters involving workplaces.

Najib said current arrangements are not helping and questioned the government’s logic in allowing certain sectors to operate under the MCO 2.0.

“It has been said sectors that contribute to the spike of Covid-19 cases are the manufacturing and construction sector.

“Yet, these sectors are allowed to operate in MCO 2.0 and for that reason, enforce the strictest MCO without any relaxation for two weeks.

“Do not enforce a half-baked MCO which will surely be extended from time to time,” he said in a Facebook post.

Yesterday, director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah expressed concern over the spike in cases at workplaces.

He said from January 6 until yesterday, a total of 350 new clusters were reported and 225 or 64.3% out of them were linked to workplaces.

“Manufacturing-related clusters recorded the highest number of clusters with 80 clusters, followed by construction-related clusters with 53 clusters and service-related clusters with 31 clusters,” he said in a statement on the development of Covid-19 yesterday.

Malaysia had been detecting a high number of Covid-19 clusters that involved workplaces. On Saturday, another eight were reported, out of 11 new clusters.

The country also recorded its highest-ever number of new infections in a day at 4,275 yesterday, taking the nation’s total caseload to 180,455 and active cases to 42,769. 

The EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham Malaysia) has warned its members that Putrajaya is considering to shut down all economic sectors should the Covid-19 infection rate fail to show a drop after February 4, the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“Should the infection rate not decrease, the Malaysian government will announce a shutdown/strict lockdown immediately after February 4, 2021. This is the current situation we are facing and the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti), is appealing to all companies, foreign and local, to join the effort of reducing infections, breaking the chain, to keep the economy open for business,” the letter read. – January 24, 2021.