As NSC dithers, Umno duo demands clarity

CORONAVIRUS | Two top Umno leaders have demanded that the National Security Council (NSC) provide more clarity following the confusion on the eve of the movement control order.

Although the order, which came into force today, was meant to discourage people from gathering and potentially spreading the Covid-19 virus, it achieved the opposite effect yesterday.

Huge crowds turned up at supermarkets to stock up on food, there was an exodus of vehicles from the Klang Valley and public university students made a beeline for bus terminals after they were booted from their hostels.

Large crowds also turned up at police stations to seek permission to cross state borders. This requirement was eventually rescinded just hours after it was imposed.

Umno vice-president Mahdzir Khalid (above) said it was clear that a lot of people, including the government agencies that were supposed to implement the order, do not fully comprehend what the order entails.

"This has caused the people to be unhappy and worried," he said in a statement today.

Mahdzir, a former education minister, said the NSC should not feel ashamed to provide clarity and correct their written instructions.

He said that firstly, the authorities must make it clear what type of travel is permissible.

Secondly, he said the authorities must inform the students that they need not leave their dormitories.

"Don't feel ashamed of constantly explaining (the matter) to the public. If there are corrections, then the NSC should make them immediately.

"The NSC media team must be aggressive in informing the rakyat. Don't feel ashamed about making a correction," he said.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (above) said the public should not be blamed for being confused because the NSC has not been providing regular updates.

"A lot of students are complaining that the cafes in their campuses are closed. They cannot afford to leave (their hostels) either.

"It is not right to ask them to leave their hostels. I urge the universities to act. Understand the purpose of the order," he said on his Twitter account.

- Mkini