KUALA Lumpur, parts of Johor, Terengganu and Perak will be subject to the movement control order (MCO) for two weeks beginning Friday as the number of Covid-19 cases and clusters continue to increase, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“The Health Ministry has confirmed a total of 17 new clusters throughout Kuala Lumpur from April 1 to April 27 with an increasing number of daily cases,” Ismail said in a statement today.

“After reviewing the presentations and suggestions from the Health Ministry, Putrajaya agreed to execute the MCO throughout Kuala Lumpur from May 7 to May 20.”

Kuala Lumpur reported 313 fresh infections in the past 24 hours.

Cross-state movements are not allowed except for work and emergency matters.

“Ramadan bazaars are still allowed to operate according to strict standard operating procedures,” Ismail Sabri said.

“However, the decision to resume or close the bazaar operations is subject to the local authorities.”

The minister also said food outlets such as restaurants, food trucks, and hawkers can operate from 6am to midnight, but only for takeaways and deliveries as dine-in is banned.  

Grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies can operate from 6am to 10pm. Petrol stations are allowed under the same operating hour except for stations on highways which is allowed to operate 24 hours.

Daily markets, farmers’ markets, public markets and weekly markets are only allowed to operate from 6am to 2pm while hospitals, clinics and medical laboratories can operate as usual.

MCO for districts in Johor, Terengganu and Perak

Ismail Sabri announced that three districts in Johor, 14 subdistricts in the Besut district in Terengganu, as well as one district in Perak will also come under the MCO for the same period. 

He said the districts in Johor are Johor Bahru, Kulai and Kota Tinggi.

The one district in Perak is Larut, Matang and Selama that includes Taiping.

Ismail said the 14 subdistricts in Besut, Terengganu are Kampung Raja, Lubuk Kawah, Pelagat, Tenang, Keluang, Bukit Kenak, Kubang Bemban, Jabi, Kerandang, Pengkalan Nangka, Pasir Akar, Tembila, Bukit Puteri and Kuala Besut. 

“The Health Ministry has recorded 406 positive Covid-19 cases from residents from the said areas in Terengganu from April 1 to May 3. 

“The increase is largely due to the movement of students and workers in and out of the neighbouring states with a high infection rate of 95%.”

Ismail Sabri said the 14 subdistricts in Terengganu have also recorded 15 clusters during the one-month period. 

As for Johor, he said that the related districts have the highest sporadic cases among the community. 

“These three districts were red zones with exceeded 150 Covid-19 cases and the capacity of the hospital and ICU has exceeded 70%,” he said. 

The Health Ministry also detected three active clusters in Taiping which are from Jalan Kolam Dua at Kampung Expo, Jalan Pokok Assam at Kampung Pokok Assam and Jalan Sepat in Kamunting. 

“Based on the current Covid-19 situation, the government has also agreed to ban any formal and informal government and private social gatherings including wedding ceremonies for all MCO areas.” – May 5, 2021.