Decision to extend MCO depends on progress, NSC to decide on March 30

CORONAVIRUS | The National Security Council (NSC) will decide on whether to extend the movement control order (MCO) by one or two weeks before March 31, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

"We have to look into the progress whether there is an improvement and cooperation from all parties including the tabligh participants who have yet to step forward (for Covid-19 screening).

"If the data and figures are lower (than previous days), before the last day of the order, on March 30, the NSC will hold a meeting to decide if the steps taken were enough or if we have to extend (the order) by a week or two.

"We will study and inform (the public)," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

However, Muhyiddin also noted that the situation, which has entered the sixth day of the order, has improved.

"I received reports from the police and army that (the compliance rate) is 90 percent. If possible, we want it to reach 100 percent.

"If there is still movement, I hope we can reduce it. If they (the public) have to go to the market, quickly go home after the purchase," he said.

The government implemented the MCO from March 18 until March 31 to flatten the Covid-19 curve.

Throughout the MCO, businesses and other firms are not allowed to operate except for those providing essential services.

To ensure the public adheres to the MCO, the army was deployed to assist the police in daily operations and roadblocks since March 22.

To date, Malaysia has recorded 1,306 Covid-19 cases, 11 fatalities and 139 complete recoveries.

The latest death involved a 70-year old man who succumbed to the illness at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Gov't to distribute 1O million free masks

Addressing the shortage of face masks, Muhyiddin said the government has imported them from China and would distribute about 10 million units for free to Malaysians.

"While the supply has not reached a satisfactory level, we have decided to import 10 million (face masks) from China.

"I have instructed The National Disaster Management Agency to provide the allocation to bring in the masks.

"The price of each mask is at RM1.18 per unit. We will distribute them for free to all Malaysian citizens," he added.

Responding to complaints that the ceiling price of face masks is expensive, Muhyiddin said he had instructed the NSC and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to review the price.

He said local factories are currently facing the challenge of obtaining raw material to produce face masks.

"I hope they will be able to overcome this and produce face masks at the capacity of two to three million units per month.

"The customs also decided that exporting (face masks) is not allowed," he added.

Media yesterday reported that the ceiling price of face masks have gone up from RM0.80 to RM2. - Mkini