Lawmaker slams Putrajaya over conditional MCO confusion

 

COVID-19 | Bandar Utama lawmaker Jamaliah Jamaluddin has taken the federal government to task for failing to communicate the rules on the conditional movement control order (MCO) for Selangor.

In a statement today, Jamaliah said she and her fellow Selangor lawmakers have been inundated with demands from their constituents for details on the rules, which at the time of writing, have not been made available yet.

"Since the announcement (yesterday evening) until late at night, my constituents, as well as those of my fellow lawmakers, have been asking for details.

"Some are questioning the need for the conditional MCO throughout Selangor.

"We could have answered all these questions if we, the legislative assemblypersons who are entrusted by the people of Selangor, were briefed.

"Not only was I not able to access the details, even our Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari has expressed shock over the announcement which did not involve the state government," said Jamaliah.

The conditional MCO for Selangor was announced at 4pm yesterday by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob and will take effect at midnight tonight.

For now, what is certain is all non-essential businesses and schools have to close while all outdoor and social activities are barred.

However, there is confusion about which types of businesses can remain open.

There are also questions on why the conditional MCO was imposed throughout Selangor although some of the nine districts have few or zero active Covid-19 cases.

Jamaliah (photo) said the National Security Council should have learned from complaints following the conditional MCO for the Klang district which caused massive confusion when the state government was not consulted as well.

"I support any effort to reduce Covid-19 cases and ensure the safety of Malaysians, especially the frontliners who have been working tirelessly to protect us.

"However, it doesn't mean we should blindly follow any rules without applying logic," she said. - Mkini