More CMCO states: Kit Siang wants a rethink

 

COVID-19 | DAP central committee member Lim Kit Siang has urged the federal government to reconsider its decision to re-apply the conditional movement control order (MCO) on more states and territories from tomorrow onwards.

Lim argued that there should be a proper balance between saving lives and saving livelihoods, as there are districts in these regions either with low reported Covid-19 cases or none at all.

For instance, Lim said in Johor, there are three districts that are labelled "green" (no reported Covid-19 cases over the past 14 days) by the Health Ministry.

These three districts are Mersing, Segamat and Batu Pahat, where Lim hailed from, while there was only one district with more than 40 cases, or classified "red".

"The government should reconsider its decision to impose the conditional MCO... to take into account the lessons of the past 10 months to fight the Covid-19 pandemic with greater flexibility.

"(The goal is to) allow Malaysians to live with the coronavirus without destroying livelihoods and hopes of a national economic recovery," he said in a statement today.

Putrajaya yesterday decided to reimpose the conditional MCO on Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Putrajaya, Perak, Kedah and Terengganu to limit movements and hopefully prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The total number of active Covid-19 cases as of noon yesterday in Negeri Sembilan was 389 followed by Penang (127), Kedah (106), Perak (87), Terengganu (50), Johor (50), Putrajaya (32) and Malacca (12).

The targeted conditional MCO expiry date for these states and territories - including Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Sabah - is Dec 6.

Under the conditional MCO, inter-district and inter-state travel are allowed only under certain circumstances while learning institutions, childcare centres and entertainment outlets have to close.

Virtually all social, cultural and religious activities will be put on hold while business hours are limited for food markets and petrol stations.

Only three states in Peninsular Malaysia - Perlis, Pahang and Kelantan - will not have the conditional MCO imposed. - Mkini