Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's remarks that Penang has refused to comply with the recovery movement control order (MCO) carries "no basis", said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Yesterday, Ismail had said that he did not understand Chow's (above) statement that Penang would hold a state security council meeting to study decisions related to the recovery MCO.
"He wants to follow which Act? The gazetted rules under the conditional MCO will automatically be voided as the recovery MCO will be gazetted and enforced on June 10," Ismail said.
"So (he has to follow) the recovery MCO," he added.
Chow pointed out that his June 7 statement issued at 7.13pm "made it very clear" that Penang will implement the recovery MCO as announced by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
"This is in line with the efforts to strike a balance between public health and the gradual reopening of our economic, social, cultural, education and religious sectors towards achieving normalisation post-Covid-19," he said during his press conference in Komtar today.
He said a meeting of the Penang Special Security Committee (JKKN) was held today to scrutinise the implementation of the recovery MCO in the state.
The JKKN, he said, was formed at the behest of the federal government, and the chief minister was appointed chairperson to fight Covid-19.
"Therefore, the senior minister should not consider the JKKN as a mere rubber-stamp," Chow said.
"The reality is that the accusation that Penang has refused to comply with or to implement the recovery MCO has been proven to be wrong based on the minutes of the JKKN meeting dated June 2.
"It was decided at the meeting that the MCO could still be extended but it must be in line with our socio-economic recovery and subject to the decision of the federal government," he added.
"Based on this principle, state agencies were directed to prepare the related stringent standard operating procedure (SOP) for the possibility of more socio-economic sectors reopening," Chow explained.
Chow said this clearly showed that the Penang government is always ready and welcomes the call or any announcement by the federal government.
The country will enter the recovery MCO period tomorrow which will see almost the entire economic and social sector fully operational.
Chow was commenting on the implementation of the recovery MCO announced by Putrajaya.
Chow pointed out that each state had submitted or shared SOPs with the National Security Council (NSC).
These SOPs will be studied, scrutinised and fine-tuned in accordance with the needs of the respective states.
"Penang is no exception. As emphasised during the initial stage by the state government, any decision made is based on striking a balance between the health and socio-economic well-being of the people in this state.
"In other words, we need to safeguard our lives and livelihood," Chow said.
"The strategies and the gradual approach according to phases adopted by the federal government had proven that the Gradual Recovery Strategy decided by the state government has been the right move until today," he added.
"In fact, whatever that is practised and implemented by the state government until this very day, has never contradicted or gone against any Acts or laws set by the federal government," he stressed. - Mkini
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