PM to address nation at 8pm

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is scheduled to deliver a televised address to the nation at 8pm tonight.

However, it is unclear if his speech would touch on the movement control order (MCO), which has been extended twice since its implementation on March 18.

The MCO is slated to end on April 28. Certain areas have been placed under an enhanced MCO or total lockdown due to the high number of Covid-19 cases.

The number of new cases nationwide have remained at two digits for several days, indicating that the infection curve could be flattening. The number of recoveries is also nearing the two-thirds mark.

Muhyiddin's address is expected to follow an announcement by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal that Ramadhan will start tomorrow.

Sources told Malaysiakini that the speech is expected to focus on the fasting month.

However, since the National Security Council (NSC) is meeting prior to his televised address, decisions made regarding the MCO could be incorporated into the speech.

At present, the government has granted more exemptions for companies to operate amid the partial lockdown in an effort to keep the economy afloat during the crisis.

Various quarters have called for the MCO to be relaxed further but medical experts have warned that lifting restrictions could lead to a resurgence in the number of infections.

As before, the government would decide on whether to extend the MCO based on the advice of the Health Ministry.

Malaysia has recorded a total of 5,532 Covid-19 positive cases and 93 deaths as of noon yesterday.

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- Mkini