KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has declared that Malaysia will be placed under nationwide movement restriction order from March 18 to March 31, 2020, due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The order, the first in the country’s history, was announced by the prime minister in a live broadcast over national television tonight.
A total of 125 new positive cases of Covid-19 have been reported as of noon today, bringing the total in Malaysia to 553 cases.
“The order was made under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967,” he said.
Muhyiddin said the order entails comprehensive restriction on movements and public gatherings throughout the country including religious, sports, social and cultural activities.
With the enforcement of this order, all houses of worship and business premises should be closed, except for supermarkets, wet markets, grocery shops and convenience stores selling daily necessities, he said.
The prime minister said the order also means that all pre-schools, government and private schools, fully residential schools, international schools, tahfiz centres, and other primary, secondary and pre-university educational institutions should be closed during the same period.
It also involves the closure of all private and public institutions of higher learning and skills training institutes in the country, he added.
The prime minister said it also involves a comprehensive restriction on all Malaysians travelling abroad. For those who have just returned from overseas, they are required to undergo a health check and to self-quarantine for 14 days.
The restriction also covers the entry of all foreign tourists and visitors into the country, he said.
Muhyiddin also said all government and private premises would be closed, except for those providing essential services.
They are those involved in water, electricity, energy, telecommunications, postal, transport, irrigation, oil, gas, fuel, lubricants, broadcasting, finance, banking, health, pharmacy, fire brigade, prison, port, airport, security, defence, cleaning, retail and food supplies.
“I am aware that all of you may feel that the action taken by the government will cause inconvenience and difficulty in your daily lives.
“However, this action must be taken by the government to curb the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic that is likely to cost the lives of people of this country,” he said.
The measures:
- Ban on all religious, sporting, social and cultural gatherings. All business and religious premises to close. Exemption on groceries, public markets, provision stores. Restriction on mosques and Islamic events subject to Muzakarah meeting.
- Nationwide travel restrictions on all citizens. Those who have just arrived from abroad must undergo self-quarantine.
- All tourists and visitors barred from entry.
- All public and private schools including kindergartens, nurseries, residential school and other educational institutions to close.
- All private and public higher institutions of learning to close.
- Closure of all government and private premises except essential services such as water and electricity, telecommunication, postal service, transport, fuel, gas, lubrication, broadcasting, banking, health, pharmacy, fire-fighting, ports, airports, prisons, security and defence, sanitary services, provision and food supply.
- Kindergartens and all schools, government or private, will be closed during this period. The closure includes boarding, international, tahfiz, primary, secondary and pre-university schools.
- Colleges and universities and technical training institutes are also to be closed during this period.
- All Malaysians are barred from leaving the country, while those returning from overseas are to conduct a period of self-quarantine for 14 days. Tourists and foreign visitors are also barred from entering the country.
– Bernama
