Malaysia likely to impose fresh MCO in KL, other areas: report

MALAYSIA is likely to announce and enforce a two-week targeted movement control order (MCO) in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and Sarawak starting Monday, The Star reported on Sunday.

It will be similar to the second MCO imposed between Jan 11 and 26 in parts of the country, whereby economic activities were allowed but schools were closed, while social and religious activities were barred, the newspaper said, citing unnamed sources.

Schools in the affected states are also likely to be closed due to many "education clusters" of Covid-19 cases emerging, while economic activities can continue but working from home would be encouraged, one source noted. Social and religious functions, meanwhile, would either be put on hold or allowed with a minimal number of attendees, he added.

Separately, travel on compassionate grounds between Singapore and Malaysia will be allowed from May 17, amid Covid-19 restrictions that ban the bulk of cross-border movement.

The details of such travel arrangements will be released later, but these will include steps like testing visitors for Covid-19 and the need for quarantine, said Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Sunday. He made the announcement together with his Malaysian counterpart, Hishammuddin Hussein.

Compassionate grounds would refer to situations when people on either side request to make trips across the border to be with those who are critically ill or to attend funerals, said Mr Hishammuddin.

Malaysia reported 3,418 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing its total to 415,012 infections.

The Business Times. (2021, May). Malaysia likely to impose fresh MCO in KL, other areas: Report. FIONA LAM. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/malaysia-likely-to-impose-fresh-mco-in-kl-other-areas-report