‘WE CAN NO LONGER WAIT’ – UMNO BANGS MUHYIDDIN & HIS INCOMPETENT NO.2 AZMIN – ‘THE LONGER WE DELAY, THE MORE THE PEOPLE WILL SUFFER’ – AS COVID-19 NEW CASES DWINDLE BUT NO SIGHT YET OF ANY EXIT STRATEGY

PUTRAJAYA should start to slowly restore the economy even before the movement control order is lifted, said Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

In a statement today, the Umno vice-president said there was an immediate need for a clear, actionable and measurable exit strategy to address the current situation.

“A clear strategy is needed as we cannot afford the risk of having another massive Covid-19 outbreak.”

He said such a plan was more urgent now than ever.

“The government should deliberate and provide a plan on how to re-energise our economy. We can no longer wait,” he said.

“The longer we delay this, the more we would not be able to sustain our healthcare system and the welfare of the people.

For a start, the former Johor menteri besar suggested that certain segments of the economy apart from essential services be allowed to resume operations.

“Businesses should be allowed to reopen in phases while restrictions could be loosened bit by bit while still maintaining the social distancing rule.”

He proposed that the government follows Germany’s example in gradually allowing schools and stores up to 800sq m large to reopen.

The lifting of restrictions, he added, could start in the green zones in states such as Penang, Terengganu, Sarawak and Perlis.

“The past week of a steady decline in new Covid-19 cases has been encouraging for Malaysia.”

Khaled said the drop in infections means it is time for the government to consider allowing interstate travel so that people could return for work.

The focus, however, should firmly be on re-energising the economy, he said.

Malaysia records 99 recoveries, 51 new cases, 2 deaths

A TOTAL of 99 patients have recovered from Covid-19 and been discharged from hospitals, exceeding the 51 new cases reported, said director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

According to Noor Hisham, 3,762 people have recovered from the virus, while the accumulated number of cases is 5,742.

“Currently, there are 36 patients in intensive care, of whom 16 require respiratory support,” he said.

Noor Hisham said there were two deaths reported over the past 24 hours, bringing the national death toll to 98.

One of the dead was a 62-year-old man with a heart condition, who was receiving treatment at Sungai Buloh Hospital.

He was admitted on March 28 and died earlier today.

The other death was a 62-year-old woman, who had high blood pressure and had contact with a Covid-19 patient, her child.

She was admitted to Kuala Lumpur Hospital on March 22 and died yesterday.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT