Former minister says conditional MCO is 'really a bad policy'

CORONAVIRUS | The conditional movement control order (MCO) that permits resumption of most economic and social activities “is really a bad policy”, said Hanipa Maidin.

In a statement today, he said despite the government seeking to strike a balance between containing the Covid-19 pandemic and healing the economy, pursuing economic activities should not happen if public health is at risk.

Hanipa, who was previously de facto deputy law minister, said there was no political wisdom in choosing between the cost between a faltering economy and risk of more Covid-19 infections.

“Truth be told, I do not see any political wisdom at all in such a bewildered policy. With due respect, I do not subscribe to a notion of the government's predicament of choosing the two conflicting opportunity costs.

“As far as I am concerned there is only one set of cost here, namely a hefty cost which the government has to dearly pay should the conditional MCO be continually pursued. Yes, the government has unduly traded our safety and our health security,” said the Amanah central committee member.

Hanipa deemed the new policy as being manifestly unfair to frontliners struggling and sacrificing even their lives to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

"Be that as it may, they should be given some credit.

“The very least the government can do is that in devising any new policy on this issue, the government ought to put their (the frontliners' interest at the forefront," he said.

The Sepang MP was responding to the government’s move on Friday last week to allow most business and social activities to resume beginning today under the new conditional movement control order (MCO) policy.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement yesterday, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said the government’s move defies logic as it goes against the MCO’s main purpose which was to flatten the curve of new Covid-19 infections in Malaysia and reduce the number of cases.

DAP's national legal bureau chairperson said that following the government’s decision, the number of new Covid-19 cases daily has increased from 69 to 122 as of yesterday.

“In such circumstances, it is obvious that the concern of the rise in the number of cases of Covid-19 in the country has not been fully resolved, which necessitates the continuation of the MCO, at least until May 12, 2020.

“How can the Prime Minister (Muhyiddin Yassin) allow people to go back to work on May 4, 2020, conditionally, knowing fully well that there is a need to enforce the MCO until at least May 12, 2020,” he said.

Ramkarpal voiced out concern that various legal implications arise from Muhyiddin’s Friday announcement, among them whether states that still barred people to go to work today as part of the original MCO directive, would be at fault for not abiding by the new conditional MCO.

“No doubt, there have been financial losses as a result of the implementation of the MCO. That has been happening since March 18, 2020, when it (MCO) was first implemented.

“But if we are still recording more than 100 cases a day, what is the justification of relaxing the MCO now when it expires on May 12?

“The prime minister must prioritise the safety and health of the people and, most importantly, take all necessary steps to prevent a new wave of Covid-19 cases," he said.

Ramkarpal said Muhyidding's justification for the easing of the MCO during his Labour Day announcement was unconvincing and states should be allowed to continue with the MCO as originally intended until May 12, 2020.

- Mkini