Ismail: More states need CMCO to prevent what happened in Selangor, N9

 

The government’s decision to impose a conditional movement control order (CMCO) on almost all states is to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak from worsening, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob explained today.

A total of nine states - Selangor, Sabah, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor and Terengganu - are currently under CMCO. The order has also been enforced in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

Unaffected are Sarawak, Pahang, Perlis and Kelantan.

This has led to concerns as to whether the move is necessary in states like Johor, where case numbers are low and several districts are Covid-19 free.

Ismail defended the National Security Council’s decision today at a press conference, calling it a necessary preventative measure.

“In the past, only the Klang district (had cases) and we didn’t even have to lockdown Klang. But ultimately, the cases spread to the entire Klang and across the whole of Selangor.

“Today, not a single area in Selangor is a green zone (without any cases). Almost all areas are either red or yellow zones,” Ismail said.

Elaborating, the minister said Negeri Sembilan had similarly seen Covid-19 spread to almost all districts.

“This is why we needed to impose a CMCO in almost all states.

“We looked at what happened in Selangor and Sabah. When the virus is already in the community, it will continue spreading if we do not curb it,” he explained.

He thus urged residents in both CMCO and other states to remain vigilant against the virus and to abide by all standard operating procedures (SOPs).

EMCO extended in five areas, lifted in two

Ismail announced that the enhanced MCO (EMCO) imposed in five localities had been extended a further two weeks. The areas are:

1. Mutiara Kasih flats and Taman Khazanah Indah, Lahad Datu, Sabah (Nov 10-23);

2. Kampung Sabah Baru, Lahad Datu, Sabah (Nov 10-23);

3. Plaza Hentian Kajang, Hulu Langat, Selangor (Nov 11-24);

4. Putra Point, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan (Nov 11-24); and

5. Kampung Haji Baki, Kuching, Sarawak (Nov 11-24).

Meanwhile, two locations now under the EMCO will see the order lifted - Felda Umas in Kalabakan, Sabah, and the Sungai Emas flats in Kuala Langat, Selangor. - Mkini